Cool Things

This week, as various schools around the area resume classes there has been numerous other interns coming in to the company. You know what this means? Other people my age and potential friends! Yes! That's been one of the highlights of this past week. Most of them go to Belmont, which is funny because I applied there and that's where I wanted to go. It is encouraging to see God's plan in hindsight, and how Belmont was not the place for me, and how going to JMU has made me the person that I am. God knew that JMU was the place I needed to go. Anyways, there's another intern in the publishing department, named Calla. She is super sweet and she comes in three times a week and that's been really great, having someone to sit next to and talk to. Yay God! 


Working at EMI, when I get to do cool things, they are wicked cool! Once a month we have an artist devotional, where one of the artists that is signed with our company comes in and talks to the staff about what is going on in their lives, in their faith and in their music. It is such a brilliant idea, because as the people behind the scenes, and behind the desks, it is encouraging to hear how what we (or more rather, they) do to help the artist, and help get their music out there, which in turn helps and ministers to so many people. Yesterday, Sanctus Real came in for the staff devotional. 


I was helping set-up for the event, so I got to hear them sound check and chat with the guys a little before it all started. We were also celebrating the success of their single, "Lead Me", so it was like a little party. Matt Hammitt, the lead singer, got up and shared and it was the coolest thing! He was sharing his heart, and told stories behind some of the songs and was updating us on the situation with his infant son's health, that has been all over the news. He was sharing how we can exchange our pain for God's purpose. According to Matt, God's story is similar to the princess stories we all know, and he said, and I quote, "Disney ripped off the Bible!" (haha, I love memorable quotes). In all those stories something starts off ugly, the situation, a person, anything - and then it is transformed and there's a happily ever after. God transforms our situations, and operates on us and in light of eternity there is a happily ever after. He also had talked about how when we're insecure, it is really us being arrogant and thinking that it's all about us, and it's up to us, rather than realizing that God is the one working and in control, so it isn't up to us. After that, they played a couple of songs and it was simply FANTASTIC!!


It's times like those when I am reminded of why I wanted to do this in the first place (way back to sophomore year of high school when I decided I wanted to go to school for music business). Music has the power to help people and speak truth to people and convey it in ways we can't define, and in order for music to get out there and help people- someone has got to sit behind a desk and fill out copyright forms, and make the phone calls, and update the databases. In order for music to get out to its audience, to make its impact . . . we have to make money. We have to make some money in order to simply run the company, so we can get the music out to everyone. 


Only two weeks working here and God has already blown me away with what He has revealed to me and taught me and what I've learned. Wow, can't imagine what He is going to do next, but I am so grateful.