Here we are several months later and God is shaping the landscape of our lives. Since the last entry regarding this dream I have sought the Lord’s direction in the music world. Daily I have whittled away at ideas, fashioning them till who am I converges with what I do.
Earlier in the summer, Becky and I developed a unique gift idea for husbands to impress their wives. We named it Piano Portraits because in it I try to paint a portrait of an individual in sound, recognizing and promoting their uniqueness and value. The prototypes were a complete success, but we wanted to expand this concept to compose lullabies for children as well.
I was also persuaded that I needed to license my music to photographers and videographers, so I launched a website called PianoGraphy which allows me to interact with them directly. This led me on a quest to find the best way to reach photographers with my music.
During my research I stumbled upon an organization, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, which connects photographers with families who have just lost a baby. These volunteer photographers go in on a moment’s notice and take professional photos so a family can remember their precious little one.
Having spent several mornings asking God for direction with my music, I immediately knew what to do. I called the organization and asked for permission to reach out to 10 families and donate Piano Portaits to them in honor of their baby. With their permission, as long as it was a 100% donation, I posted a call for volunteer families. Within one week, ten families volunteered.
I couldn’t just throw together 10 piano works. I determined to interview each family on the phone. I am still in this process. It has been heart-wrenching to go through the stories, the photos, and the videos.
When I talk with the moms, I ask them to describe their baby. I ask them to list some of the hopes and dreams they had for their baby. I write down these words and phrases. They become the inspiration for the melody, the rhythm, and the mood.
The more I talk with the moms about their babies and what I am doing, the more I realize that this really means something to these moms. It recognizes and promotes their baby’s uniqueness and value in a way that nothing else can. Photos require the attention of the eyes, but music carries throughout the house.
So how does this all relate to the $100,000,000 dream? What if, alongside pastors and missionaries, we open our countryside getaway to families who have just lost a baby so they can have a safe place to grieve? Think about it. The dream grows. I welcome your comments.