I have found that “peace and rest in a hurried world” is more received than achieved. Here are a few ways I am growing in receiving peace and rest:

• Early morning quiet time and solitude
• A good night’s rest and some swimming, running and stretching a few times per week
• Making daily progress little by little, rather than striving too hard
• Living in the moment, treasuring relationships and shared memories
• Having a mindset to more of a creator than a consumer
• Thinking of life as an epic story, an adventure to live, a beautiful film in living color

This was a great exercise for me, and more thoughts will probably follow. How about you? What things are helping you receive “peace and rest” today?

Continuing from yesterday…

In the summer of 2004, I left Ronald Blue & Co. to become a full-time pianist and composer. The greatest blessing of my call to that firm was not that it was a life calling, but that I had learned God would speak to me and I could hear His voice if my heart was surrendered to Him. The improbability of my career shifting from money to music is a miracle and a mystery that has stretched our faith, but God has been faithful.

The principles of Ronald Blue & Co. and Sound Mind Investing were vital in giving my wife and me the financial ability to follow God’s call. We both worked before having children, lived well within our means, and paid off all of our debts except our home mortgage. We made extra principal payments over time and were able to convert from a 30-year to a 15-year mortgage with the same payment. We maximized and diversified our savings using SMI recommendations for money market and mutual funds. God also challenged us to be more generous in our giving during these years.

Below are two additional steps and scriptures that have had a powerful impact on our faith journey. I hope they inspire and encourage you to pursue your passions

3. Invite. After you have prayerfully asked God to speak, waited upon Him, listened for His voice, obeyed what He says, and clarified the vision He has revealed to you, then you are ready to invite others to pray for you and even contribute to your cause. Ask God to help you seek to please Him and not men. “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

4. Imitate. Imitate the faith of others who are surrendered to God and seeking His will in their life. Spend time with them and learn from them. Imitate Jesus’ desire to please the Father. “So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’ Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:6-7).

Here is Part 1 of the story and the first two steps I learned about pursuing my passions. I will share Part 2 and two more steps tomorrow…

In 1994, at the age of 30, I surrendered my career life to God and asked Him to show me what He wanted me to do. After getting an MBA and spending five years in consulting and sales, the time had come to trust God 100% instead of asking Him to join me in what I was doing.

In 1995, God called me to Ronald Blue & Co. to become a financial planner. It was the clearest sense of direction I had experienced in my life. So clear, in fact, that I thought the greatest blessing was that I had found my life calling. It was a joy and a privilege to wake up each day and give financial counsel to clients based on a biblical perspective.

Working with clients on financial and life stewardship caused me to ask myself the same questions I would often discuss with clients. How much is enough? What are your passions? As I reflected, my heart was stirred to revive a lifelong passion I had for playing the piano and writing songs. “Baby steps” of faith led me to a place where God inspired me to compose instrumental melodies to help people slow down and experience His peace. The next year, I released my first CD and gave it away to friends, clients and co-workers. More and more people began to enjoy and share my music and two more albums followed.

Below are the first two steps that had a powerful impact on my faith journey. I hope they inspire and encourage you to pursue your passions.

1. Invest. In 1999 I had a stirring in my heart that I was supposed to invest in a keyboard and computer to record some old songs I had written in high school. God’s voice just would not go away on this, so I gathered information for six months, waited upon the Lord, and took action steps to obey and invest. Following this, God revealed a new idea to create solo piano from scripture to “bring peace to the soul.” “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).

2. Invigorate. What is it that invigorates you (i.e. refreshes, revitalizes, stimulates, enlivens, energizes, rejuvenates, animates, strengthens, livens you up)? Make sure to integrate whatever “it” is into your life, even if this means just a few minutes each day or a few hours each week. Make the most of life right now where you are. “I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free” (Psalm 119:32).

Some of the inspiration behind The Voice – you can sample this melody at https://www.stantonlanier.com/the-voice.php (just copy into your browser). By the time I was in high school I had become a worrier and perfectionist, and was overly conscious of what others thought of me. The voice I often heard in my mind was my own, criticizing my performance and pouring on more pressure to succeed. God was part of my life, but it took a long time before I deeply explored the possibility of hearing His voice. Could He actually guide my steps in life? Could He provide the wisdom, discernment and comfort that I needed?  Could I really hear His voice? The more I have pursued this, the more I have encountered profound conversations and intimacy with a God who cares for me beyond my comprehension. Try playing this melody in an extra quiet place . . . be still . . . and listen.  “. . . the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still, small voice . . . Elijah heard the voice. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (1 Kings 19:11-13; Isaiah 30:21). Pursuing God and hearing His voice more clearly are lifelong pursuits that will never reach perfection in my lifetime, but making progress one day at a time and by God’s grace is definitely worthwhile.

What are your “dreams in the night?” (What are your greatest fears and doubts?) I composed Dreams in the Night for the Unveiled CD in 2006-2007, and often play this song in concert. I like to include it in the program to reach those in the audience who are struggling with fear and doubt over some life circumstance (I often have these struggles in life too). My story about this song has always been about this theme of life’s anxious thoughts, which people connect with right away. Then, this spring I literally had this “dream in the night”…

The dream…I was the second pianist to perform in a packed auditorium of 500 people or so. This jazzy, upbeat, singing lady pianist was the first act and had the audience clapping and singing along. I was wondering if they would connect as well with my peaceful, uplifting melodies, visuals and stories (Fear #1). It would be a hard act to follow, so I decided to go find a piano to practice for a few minutes before I would be called to the stage. I couldn’t find one, so I went out the back door and there was this field. I kept walking and I realized it was a field of pianos that were old, weathered and worn out. It was like a car junkyard, but with pianos. As I went from one piano to the next, none of them would play. Time was getting short as I walked further into the field. I needed to get back to the auditorium, and would have to play with no warm up (Fear #2). As I quickened my pace to get back, out of the shadows two men approached me asking for money. I thought they were going to rob me (Fear #3). I was scared, but was able to say “no thank you” and make it back to the auditorium. However, now I was late for my performance and everyone was waiting and wondering where I was (Fear #4). Then I woke up. I usually don’t remember dreams, but this one was like a weird movie and stayed with me. It clearly illustrated some of my “dreams in the night,” and reminded me to keep alive a sense of child-like faith in God as I live life’s moments. What is your “dream in the night?” What steps can you take to nurture your child-like faith?

Most of my childhood memories about playing are pictures of the outdoors.  I grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina from 1964 to 1974.  I can’t remember exactly when, but sometime after my two younger brothers were born, around the time I was five, my dad had a pile of dirt dumped right between the driveway and the swing set.  To this day my brothers and I can recall the hundreds of hours we spent on the “dirt pile.”

After some outdoor fun as a toddler with a tricycle, a running water hose in the back yard, and the most amazing device called a sprinkler that sprayed all those thin water lines (and you could even run through it!), the dirt pile became and integral part of life. I was in heaven playing on the dirt pile, or riding my bicycle, or climbing trees.

The dirt pile allowed me to use my imagination.  I also got to control the story.  Maybe the coolest thing was the strategic battles with those little green army men.  Or maybe it was the largest dirt corporation in the world being run by dump trucks and bulldozers.  Something about the dirt pile was extra special.  I think it was because my hands were the creator of tales of grand adventure.

I got a “brand new” used spider bicycle (with the banana seat) for my 6th birthday.  It didn’t have any training wheels, which were rarely seen in those days.  I still have the picture of me sitting on the bike leaning against a pine tree to make it look like it was standing up.  I practiced riding in the grass in the backyard at first.  The swing set was beside the dirt pile, and about a twenty yard stretch of grass ran down a narrow yard that ended at the clothes line.  On one of my early rides my balance was good, but I could not focus on steering at the same time, so I ran right into the clothes line pole.  The trial and error and scrapes were so worth the reward.

I can remember it like yesterday.  The exhilaration of that first real bike ride.  There was nothing like the wind in my face.  The speed was intoxicating.  Then I was inducted into the bicycle fraternity of jumping.  I could fly yards in the air off a makeshift homemade ramp.  I was invincible.  Somehow this surpassed the dirt pile.  I could engage my whole body – feet, legs, hands, eyes, and mind – in creating an adventure that I lived in.  The dirt pile was still great, but it just could not compare to riding like the wind at the speed of sound.

There is something in the human heart that longs for adventure on a growing scale.  It wasn’t too long before my brothers and I began climbing every tree in our yard that we were able to master.  We didn’t have a big yard.  The family estate was a perfect compliment to the three bedroom, two bath house with partial basement.  There was the persimmon tree.  There were some dogwood trees.  There were oak trees.  You could climb part way up one of the dogwood trees and then cross over to an oak tree that you could climb a little higher on.  Climbing trees gave a sense of freedom that even a bicycle could not.  It wasn’t riding in the wind.  It was viewing life through a tree, above the world, one with the wind, at peace with nature and people.  Now I was ready.  The dirt pile, my bicycle and climbing trees in my yard had trained me well for Mt. Everest – the sweet gum tree across the street.

There was this towering sweet gum tree.  You know, the kind that has the little prickly round balls that fall to the ground (sweet gums).  They were brilliant green in the spring and summer, and turned brown and died when they fell to the ground in the fall.  The tree was barren in the winter, revealing its giant frame that could hold as many little boys as could climb up into its arms.  The trunk was way too big to put my arms around.  To climb it, you had to get a friend to hold their hands together to form a step so you could reach the lowest branch.  Oh how sweet a climb it was after that.  There were dozens of branches to stop on and take it all in.  Every spot was marvelous.  The pinnacle seemed about a hundred feet higher.  Once you reached the highest branch you could still sit on, the world seemed so much smaller down below.  You would sway a foot or two in the wind up there.  It was only pleasure though.  No fear.

It was always fun dropping (and throwing) the sweet gums from up in the tree.  I guess the projectile DNA is hardwired into boys.  One time some friends and I decided to see if we could hit a car as it drove by.  My heart would race with every attempt.  The game was on.  And the fear of what would happen if we actually hit a car.  Well, of course, we finally hit one.  It skidded to a stop and the screech of tires about scared us half to death.  A man got out and pointed up at the tree and yelled something.  It sounded like the adult talk in a Charlie Brown television special (bwa bwa bwa bwa).  I recall butterflies in my stomach as I was throwing them, followed by a gasp as I feared death at the hands of sweet gum road rage!  But the driver decided not to climb the tree to get us.  As the car drove away we all had a sigh of relief and started to retell the story to each other like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.  We didn’t need to throw any more that day.

My soul was stirred every time I climbed that sweet gum tree.  There were secret things I discovered up there . . . freedom from worry, the independence of a bird, the choice to pause and take in the beauty, the awesome power of nature.  I was part of something a lot bigger than myself.  It was like I had a part in the story.  There did not seem to be any limitations on what was possible in this life.  Did you have a “dirt pile”?  Did you have a “sweet gum tree”?

Recently I waited in the car for a few minutes on a rainy day at the end of my kids’ piano lessons. I closed my eyes briefly, and when I opened them the art in front of me was amazing. The raindrops were forming in very interesting ways on the windshield and the trees and sky behind were blurred. I started taking pictures focusing on the drops. This experience and attached image of four pine trees through windshield raindrops reminds me to live in the present (stay focused on everything closest), while being mindful of the future (vision, plans, goals, but don’t camp out there or worry about what is ahead).

April 2012 was a very full month and writing time was limited due to projects, travel and family time. There were many happenings and blessings, including a spring break trip to Yosemite National Park and San Francisco, exhibiting and sharing music at private events in Orlando, FL, Colorado Springs, CO and Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, GA. I was often reflecting on gratitude and remembrance during these days. There is much to be thankful for.

It’s hard to believe that just one year ago, the new album A Thousand Years had just been recorded with Will Ackerman in Vermont, and was beginning to make its way out into the world to be heard with its message of “peace and rest in a hurried world.” I finished April 2012 with my wife at a special conference on generosity, where I had the privilege of performing a concert. One of my favorite “write downs” from several of the stories that were shared was “I would rather grow toward increasing my standard of giving instead of my standard of living.” There is great need across the earth in so many areas. The following question was also posed: “Why do I have more than I need?” And the answer was, “So that I can help others in need.”

A new radio interview just broadcast today that shares more of my life and music story: http://www.empowerradio.net/podcasts/artasworship_032712_stantonlanier.mp3. The host decided to title it “Life is an Adventure to Live.” In 1999 I was profoundly moved by this phrase when I came across it in a book called “Wild at Heart” by John Eldredge. It was posed as a question – “Is your life more of a problem to solve, or an adventure to live?” Wow. It really cut to the heart. I immediately realized I had been trying to “solve” life ever since my child-like faith and sense of wonder began to be pressed down and diminished after elementary school. There was evidence of it now and then, but I didn’t begin truly experiencing living life as an adventure until 2000-2001, which happened to be when I started composing instrumental music. I hope this interview audio and these written thoughts inspire you to embrace “the adventure.”

Since my song Peace is a top song on iTunes and a favorite of listeners around the world, I wanted to share some of the story behind this melody from The Voice CD. I started composing Peace in December 2004, and unlike most of my songs, it took another six months to reach its final form. It was recorded in August 2005 at the George Lucas Skywalker Sound Studios, and the angelic vocals of Noah Wilding were added at Imaginary Road Studios a few weeks later with producer Will Ackerman.

This composition was inspired by a little girl named Hayley, who died of leukemia at 22 months old, and whose life will always remind me to treasure every moment with childlike faith. The first version of this piece was like a music box lullaby. Near the completion of this project, the music evolved to a deeper place that attempts to share a peace that transcends circumstances, a peace that passes all understanding . . . a peace that Hayley knows and would want us to know. The delicate vocals are like those of an angel watching over Hayley, and each of us. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).

Hayley’s life and inspiration to so many led to Peace being played at services of remembrance for families who had lost a child to cancer, and CDs being donated to offer hope and healing. Today this program is called Get Music Give Hope and 25,000 CDs have been given away so far. For a powerful video and more information on Get Music Give Hope you can visit https://www.stantonlanier.com/about-mtltw.php.