31 Days of December Peace: Day 3 ~ The Glow of Giving

December 3, 2012 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

The new 31 Days of December Peace eBook is available for only $4.99. Download at stantonlanier.com or the Amazon Kindle Store.

“For it is in the giving that we receive.” – St. Francis of Assisi

In 1991 we lived in a tiny apartment in Hoboken, New Jersey. Early that December we had a window leak, so a handyman and I spent the better part of a week together in our small living room. Near the end of the week I asked him if he knew of anyone going through a tough time who had young children, because I wanted to help out with buying Christmas gifts. He was quiet for a few moments and then said, “Is it too bold of me to ask for this gift… I have four kids and it’s been a rough year.”

His joyful spirit never gave a hint of his struggles. I was so excited to help his family. He gave me the ages of his kids, their interests, and their special Santa requests. We agreed that I would give him the wrapping paper so he and his wife could have the joy of giving the gifts. It was a tearful moment for both of us.
When he came back the next week to pick up the toys, he burst out crying while he bear hugged me. We both cried tears of joy and gratitude. I will never forget the depth of emotion we shared.His story may stop there…. his 1991 Christmas miracle. My story doesn’t.

I basked in the glow of giving all year that year. I couldn’t wait to do it again and feel the warmth of giving the following Christmas. We found another family in a rough spot and my husband and I agreed to meet the father with wrapping paper and unwrapped toys so he, too, could have the joy and ownership of wrapping his children’s gifts.

As we knocked on his door, we had Christmas in our hearts and anticipation of being wrapped in the warmth of gratitude. The door opened wide to a family young and old. Without any pleasantries, they swiftly grabbed the gift bags, nodded, and slammed the door in our faces.

We stood there in shock with the closed door inches from our noses. Slowly we turned to each other and started to chuckle in total disbelief at the speed of the exchange. We walked back to the car shaking our heads trying to parse together what had just happened.

I am grateful for the juxtaposition of these Christmases. This quick exchange taught me a greater lesson than the warmth of the first. Didn’t Jesus heal ten lepers, and only one came back to give thanks? (Luke 17:15-16). Lack of gratitude didn’t stop Jesus from giving and it wasn’t going to stop me.

Give, give, and give as Jesus did with no expectations. The warmth of the bear hug and tears shared in 1991 is enough to sustain me forever.

31 Days of December Peace: Day 2 ~ The Soundtrack of Peace

December 2, 2012 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

The new 31 Days of December Peace eBook is available for only $4.99. Download at stantonlanier.com or the Amazon Kindle Store.

As a writer, I use music to wash over me, creating moods and an environment that fuels creativity. When I wrote the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry Jenkins and Dr. Tim LaHaye, Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman felt like friends. Writing Almost Heaven was an exercise in mandolins and guitars and bluegrass.

There is a soundtrack to our lives, our stories, as real as those we hear in films. It’s up to us to listen. We can drown the notes with other pursuits, other music that crowds it out, but it is there, running through our lives every day.

At this busy, hustle-bustle time of year, the Good News is all around us, but you have to listen carefully to hear the soundtrack over the 24 hour news cycle. If you lean even closer, you can hear that same soundtrack running through your own life.

I choose to rest in a sovereign God who made everything seen and unseen. I choose to believe there is more going on than I understand. Looking back, I see the intricately woven story of redemption as the soundtrack playing behind the man and woman choosing to eat. I hear the minor chords as men sell their brother into slavery and watch that evil become their salvation. When all seems lost, the waters part and a path is hewn where none existed. Promised Land ahead, people stumble over their wayward hearts as prophets, priests, and kings rise and fall. A Wonderful Counselor is promised. A Mighty God will appear. A Suffering Servant.

Sometimes I think the soundtrack of my life is the B side of an old garage sale reject. It’s haphazard and scratched and almost unintelligible. I envision God watching human history and shaking his head. Then, with a snap, he awakens with the spark of an idea. A way to redeem he hadn’t considered.

God is not like this.

The cross was not his fallback plan. God chose the manger that cradled the infant head of his Son. Every bit of straw, every animal in that dirty cave, every shepherd that came running, every angel that sang his song was chosen. Every footstep toward Golgotha, each nail, each thorn on the crown. Every Roman guard pressed into service. The tomb that couldn’t hold him. The stone that rolled away.

And you.

The sovereign God who made you wants you to hear this soundtrack, not to figure out how he scored the music. This is not a musical puzzle. He asks you to surrender to his music. He is playing the notes behind the pain and struggle of your life. You can participate. You can fight against him or abandon yourself to the ebb and flow that began creation’s song.

The soundtrack of peace is the love of God. This crimson melody runs through history’s landscape and the crags of your life.

May the music haunt you today and give you peace. May you hear the soundtrack gently leading you toward hope.

Are You Ready for 31 Days?

November 27, 2012 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

Do you long for peace and rest during the stressful holiday season? I have been working on a special project to bring you daily inspiration throughout December. I will be sharing in my blog, but you can also learn more by visiting my Amazon Kindle page.

31 Days of December Peace is a brand new companion resource for my 2009 Best Holiday Album December Peace (ZMR Awards). I, along with special friends from my musical journey, have written stories and reflections inviting you into blissful moments each day during December (best while listening to the album).

My journey to founding Music to Light the World, and becoming an award-winning pianist and composer, was shaped by climbing trees in North Carolina, working at a canoe rental in the Florida panhandle, majoring in chemistry at Georgia Tech, meditating on ancient scriptures, and many other stories. Special friends have played a part in this story too, including a nephrologist, a Grammy winning producer, a jewelry designer, business owners, spiritual leaders, artists, authors, financial advisors and cancer survivors. Their stories interweave with mine to create a beautiful tapestry of peace, rest, hope and healing that is touching lives around the world.

Find a quiet place. Pause from the stress. Receive peace and rest. The words of 31 Days of December Peace and the music of December Peace invite you to experience a refreshing and renewing December.

Happy Thanksgiving

November 21, 2012 By Stanton Lanier 1 Comment

Bursting with Possibility

September 12, 2012 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

I am feeling overwhelmed by having so much more than I can do right now. However, at the same time, life is bursting with possibility. How about you? Are you feeling overwhelmed, and burdened by impossibility? Or, are you feeling overwhelmed, and bursting with possibility? A swim, a phone call to a friend, and a morning snack created an “aha” moment today…

“How can my life story have more plentiful juice with a refreshingly sweet tang?”

Clementine – Bursting with Possibility

This morning I swam 60 laps (about 3/4 mile). I was feeling great, partly I’m sure, from the endorphins produced by the exercise. There was a sense this was so worth while. That the “lost time” of working out would more than make up for itself. The day ahead was filled with possibility.

After the swim, I was prompted to call a friend and connect with his story. He is beginning a new adventure, so I wanted to encourage him. He is a great storyteller and has helped me tell better stories. His heart was so filled with possibility for his future, the stories were just flowing out of him. It was so worthwhile, and I knew the time would be redeemed. He was filling my cup with possibility.

When I got home to start my work day, I was planning a “snack reward” for my swim – a Crunchy Peanut Butter Clif Bar (they were on a really good sale at Walmart). Before I could grab one, my wife said I should have a piece of fruit. I knew she was right. I went for a Clementine, a tiny tangerine that peels really easily and is bursting with juice and flavor (I have to admit, I ate it in one bite). As soon as it burst into juice and flavor in my mouth, I realized even in the midst of an overwhelming to do list, today was bursting with possibility.

Read this definition of a Clementine and relate it to your life story today…Also known as the Algerian tangerine, Clementines are the crown jewel of the Mandarin Citrus Family. Originating in North Africa (now also grown in California and Florida), this is the best loved mandarin orange. A hybrid between an orange and mandarin or tangerine, this variety is seedless, smaller in size, has thinner membranes, and more plentiful juice with a refreshingly sweet tang.

Are you feeling overwhelmed like me? Don’t be burdened by what is “impossible.” Will you join me in remembering that every day is bursting with possibility? How can this help you live a better story?

“…With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26

Silence in the Noise

September 10, 2012 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

How do you find silence in all the noise around you? Take a moment to be silent and take in the photo below, or a view you have out the window. Or, close your eyes and think of your favorite “quiet place.” Something happened to me when I went for a run this morning that forced me into silence…

Beach Thunderstorm – Symbol of Silence

I got out my little clip on iPod shuffle to listen to some music during my run. After getting it set in my ears, I noticed the switch had already been moved over to the “on” position. This had happened before. I knew the battery would be dead, and it was. I had to run without any music, which turned out to be a good thing.

I remembered running before there were iPods or MP3 players. This morning I listened to my feet. I heard different kinds of birds singing their morning song. I heard my breathing. There was a little bit of road noise from cars, but I can’t remember it. I must have blocked it out. I found myself praying some too. I was able to find “silence in the noise.” It was refreshing.

Can you remember your favorite “quiet places” growing up? I used to climb trees and take long bike rides. I remember a summer job carrying canoes down to the river with nobody around. In college, I used to find a desk for studying in the most hidden away part of the library. It seems that we all have a need for silence. Silence is refreshing to the soul.

What is your favorite “quiet place” today? There are moments I long for during vacation times, like a thunderstorm at the beach. This can be a quiet place. I like to be up early sometimes, reading in my favorite chair, before the world is awake. This can be a quiet place. See what happens in your life this week when you meditate on the idea of finding “silence in the noise.”

To go a step further, try listening to a sample of Quiet Place from my 5th album The Voice.

Podcast #2: Bread of Angels – The Passport

September 7, 2012 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

I am excited to share Episode #2 of the Pianist of Peace Podcast. This one is slightly longer than average, so to receive the most benefit, wait until you can take the time to pause and listen without interruption. There are three elements to help you experience peace and rest, inspiration and creativity in your life today:

Part 1 – A short, personal life story to inspire your journey.
Part 2 – A full-length melody to help you pause and reflect on a specific aspect of your life.
Part 3 – A few questions to encourage and challenge you to live a better story.

This story, and all the stories within the story, were totally unplanned and unexpected. When all this was happening, I knew I had better start writing it down. It fits perfectly with the song Bread of Angels, which expresses the wonder of provision, and how all things are possible. Bread of Angels is on my newest album A Thousand Years. I hope you enjoy…

[buzzsprout episode=’58647′ player=’true’]

Mocah Cream Cake = Peace and Joy

August 30, 2012 By Stanton Lanier 4 Comments

I was just starting my morning and got a call from my brother. He said, “Happy Birthday!” (it’s my 48th today) and shared he woke up thinking about me. He said it’s interesting how as we get older others mean more and we mean less. He elaborated, “Our younger days are often more self focused and self serving. As we get older, life is more about our relationships with others, and serving others before ourselves.” “Wow,” I said. “That’s today’s blog post.”

Below are some short reflections to help you think about your life story and living it well. But first, I wanted you to see my Mocah Cream Birthday Cake.

My wife has been making this for me since 1990, the year we were married. Today I will cut a big slice of my 23rd Mocha Cream Cake. Peace and Joy! When my brother talked about how our perspective changes through the years, I was stirred to remember what was happening in my life from age 8 to 48.

Age 8. Third grade. Beginning to grow out of stuttering as a child. Still struggling with my R’s and W’s. The word “reward” bugs me to this day. Very shy. A few neighborhood friends. Playing little league baseball and basketball. Third year of piano lessons. Elton John’s song “Rocket Man” was a hit.
Age 18. Graduated high school. Started freshman year at Georgia Tech. Had written 15 songs and had 10th and 12th grade piano recitals. Scored 30 points in a high school basketball game. Very special friends and memories. By faith, had trusted God’s gift of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus.
Age 28. Second wedding anniversary. Had an MBA. Started my third job. Striving for success by the world’s standards. Wanted to be a real estate investor, entrepreneur. Had not surrendered my life and career fully to God. Started studying the Bible with my wife.
Age 38. Fulfilled and on purpose as a financial planner (after “career surrender” at age 30). About to release my second instrumental piano album. Starting to wonder if music was what I was supposed to do. Living for significance was now more important than success. Longing to hear God’s voice.
Age 48. Precious memories and relationships looking back. Top priority to be a loving and leading husband and dad. Not taking life as seriously as I once did. More tears. More joy. More adventure. More wonder. More uncertainty. Grateful for every day. Living in the present. Excited about the future!

How about you? Does your life story have peace and joy today? Who or what needs your focus to live a great story, to serve others well? I’d love to hear your thoughts…

What Are Your Yellow Ribbons?

August 27, 2012 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

When I was in 8th grade, I wanted to win the school spelling bee and make it on the Tonight Show as the U.S. National Spelling Bee Champion. I misspelled the first word. I can still remember my favorite English teacher calling out the word, “execute.” I spelled it e-x-i-c-u-t-e. I was devastated. Later that school year I played Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree on the piano for the 8th grade talent show. This was a good life changing moment. I think you’ve had some of these too. There is something you can do with them to inspire your life today. Let me explain.

Stanton Lanier – 8th Grade Talent Show

It was my mom’s idea. She said I should put yellow ribbons all over me as part of my outfit for the talent show. I was nervous, but I went through with it. Everyone loved it. I won third place, if I remember correctly. But this was a “first place” moment in believing I could accomplish something. The spelling bee experience had shattered my public speaking confidence. My “Yellow Ribbons” helped me realize anything is possible.

Did you have a “Yellow Ribbon” moment while growing up? It may have been a coach or teacher that really believed in you. Someone who told you “You can do it.” I had some who did, and some who didn’t. To inspire your life today, and increase your confidence, recall one of your “Yellow Ribbon” moments. Take yourself back into the scene. Listen for the sounds, smell the air, visualize it. Now mix this with some childlike faith, such as “with God all things are possible,” and apply this to a current project, relationship, or dream you have. Keep a long-term mindset and take things one day at a time. But most of all, keep believing!

I would love to hear about one of your “Yellow Ribbon” moments, or if these thoughts give you inspiration for something you are working on.

Seize the Moment

August 23, 2012 By Stanton Lanier 3 Comments

One of my favorite photo moments so far in 2012 happened this past spring. I was waiting in the car during a spring rain and noticed surprising beauty on the windshield. The camera focused on the windshield raindrops, with trees out in the background. This reminds me to focus on the present (to seize the moment), yet to be mindful of the future (but not overly worried about it).

Are you focusing on the present?

Are you seizing the moments in each day’s adventure? What is something you are working on that is making you focus on the now, and requiring you to let go of future results?

P.S. I took several shots that day, and included a different one in a post called “Living in the Present” back on May 2, 2012. http://www.stantonlanierblog.com/2012/05/02/living-in-the-present/