Lightkeeper's Journal

Why I Love Bluegrass Music

  

Photography by Curtis Beaird

Article by Norma W. Beaird

 

Having been raised in a Pentecostal church where choirs, solos, trios and musical instruments were a very important part of worship, I have always loved music.  Hymns, Southern Gospel, Country Gospel, Black Gospel and Bluegrass Gospel have always been a part of my life. 

As a matter of fact, my mother was a church pianist for fifty-two years and served as church organist for six years.  She played for the most of the revivals, weddings and funerals, and she is currently playing piano for a small Baptist Church.  For quite a few years, I sang alto in the choir.  Plus, we attended many Southern Gospel concerts and (as the Southerners call it), attended many "sings" at other churches.  Being around music all of my life also included seven years of piano lessons and music theory.

In the mid-nineties, I had a group travel business that included planning trips and escorting church groups to the famous Bill Gaither Homecoming Concerts.   Being around such a rich musical heritage, I learned very early that positive music can bring a sense of peace when it seems the world is crashing down around you.  As a matter of fact, music is very important to God:

Psalm 150 

King James Version

1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary:

praise him in the firmament of his power.

² Praise him for his mighty acts:

praise him according to his excellent greatness.

³ Praise him with the sound of the trumpet:

praise Him with the psaltery and harp.

⁴ Praise him with the timbrel and dance:

praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

⁵ Praise him upon the loud cymbals:

praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.

⁶ Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

The Lord is praised through our worship as we read the Bible, pray, preach, teach, help others and  sing or play musical instruments.  According to Psalm 150, music is beautiful to God.  People who praise the Lord through encouraging music help to brighten a person's day or give them a sense of relief from the stresses of everyday life. 

One particular genre of music that I have really enjoyed more and more through the years is Bluegrass Gospel and Bluegrass music in general.  According to the International Bluegrass Music Museum, Bluegrass is truly an American phenomenon, a music that rose to prominence deep in the hills of the Carolinas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia.  This music resonated with the folks who lived in the rural areas, in the mountains and on the farms in the Eastern United States. 

Rural life was hard for the settlers and for the many folks who settled on the farms.  Bluegrass music gave them a way to express themselves emotionally and spiritually.  Sometimes it's easier to sing about it than to talk about it.  Consequently, sometimes it's easier to listen to a good song than it is to worry about the troubles of this life.  I have learned many lessons in life, but one I have learned for certain is that prayer and uplifting music can help to calm the emotional stormy seas and remind us that we need to get down on our knees and pray. 

Most of today's modern Country, Pop and Gospel music has been hijacked by the over-orchestrated engineering in a big city studio.  Acoustic performances have been replaced by muffled soundtracks; or, as my grandmother called it, "canned music".   For me personally, I much prefer the pure sound of an acoustic guitar, bass fiddle, mandolin or banjo.  Instrumentals without auto-tuned voices preserve artistic integrity; therefore, they take precedence over heavily orchestrated soundtracks. 

Thus, Bluegrass Music has a calming effect.  Unlike most modern music today, it does not assault your ears with loud, pounding noise.   That's because it purely echoes both vocally, lyrically and instrumentally the struggles and questions of life in a poetic, but straight-forward manner.  Especially today in this modern culture of noise and distractions, my absolute favorite music is Bluegrass.  Pure, simple, real and folksy, it speaks to old and young, rich and poor, happy and sad.  You can't say that about most music today, but you can acknowledge the broad reach of this culturally rich American tradition called Bluegrass. 

When I graduated from high school, my grandparents asked me what I wanted as a graduation gift.  I told them that I wanted a banjo.  "A banjo?"  "Yes, I want a banjo!"  For quite a while, I took music lessons from two different talented musicians.  The last instructor who taught me banjo lessons ended up in Nashville as a studio musician. 

My lessons stopped and I don't play anymore, but I still have that beautiful stringed instrument that reminds me of my early fondness for the sounds of simpler times, especially when I hear the first few chords of Foggy Mountain Breakdown or the pure vocal sounds of Patty Loveless and Ricky Skaggs in Daniel Prayed.  

Therefore, I present to you just one of my favorite Bluegrass groups, The Gospel Bluegrass Project:

 

 

 

 Copyright 2013, Norma W. Beaird.  All rights reserved. 

Signs You're Living in Georgia

It's amazing what you will see while sitting at a traffic light. 

 

Article by:  Norma W. Beaird

Photography by:  Curtis and Norma Beaird

Curtis and I absolutely love photography, mostly outdoor photography to include nature, landscapes, coastal scenes and old churches.  At the same time, in searching for beautiful and interesting photos, we sometimes come across signs that are very humorous (at least they're humorous to us).  On top of this, we love to laugh!  Laughter is like medicine, except it has less side effects!     

Sometimes, we need to trade the serious for the humorous,

and trade the chaos for the calm. 

As you can probably tell, we're a little eclectic in our subject matter.  Even though the world seems to have gone crazy at the moment, we need to train ourselves to occasionally view the positive and joyful side of life.   If we always feed our mind the constant bad news, the never-ending political spin and the horrifying apocalyptic predictions, we'll be a prime candidate for the latest anti-depressant on the market today.

Sometimes, despite the negativity that surrounds us 24/7, we need to laugh and find the humor that is all around us.  Sometimes, we need to photograph that funny sign that may not contribute anything towards world peace, but it gives us some emotional relief.   As a matter of fact, the Mayo Clinic endorses laughter as an effective means of stress management.

It's okay to laugh.  It's okay to have a sense of humor and be happy.

Proverbs 15: 13 

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance:

but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. 

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Sometimes, we need to take a break from the stress, the traumas, and the little life dramas.  (Wow!......how poetic)  Sometimes, we need to "lighten up"  and give it a break......or a rest.  It may be as simple as going camping and admiring the beauty of nature.  It may be as simple as spending time with the grandchildren.  It may be as simple as a husband and wife scheduling a date night at their favorite secluded restaurant. 

Sometimes, it may be as simple as photographing your pet or a bird in the front yard.  You may relieve stress by writing your thoughts in a journal.  It may be as easy as watching a funny re-run on TV.  It may be as soothing as a pedicure or as relaxing as a drive through the quiet countryside.  It may be as simple as going fishing in your favorite pond or lake.  It doesn't have to be expensive or require a lot of planning, but it does need to relieve stress and redirect your thoughts to what is really important in life. 

Find a reason to laugh and bring some sunshine to a cloudy day.

Laughter is contagious!

As part of our humor therapy, we want to share some of the things that we find funny.  Since we live in Georgia, we have noticed that Georgia businesses have a knack for producing three things in their signage. 

1.  Signs with part of the lights out.  Blown-out light bulbs are a sure-fire sign you're in Georgia. 

2.  Signs with funny messages, whether or not it's meant to be humorous. 

3.  Signs with straight talk about their requirements for entering the premises. 

We also find pictures of things that don't necessarily classify as signage, but they're so funny that we have to share them!  Living in Georgia provides many opportunities for entertainment. 

There are times when we don't always have our cameras with us.  A few of these were photographed with our cell phone.  We just couldn't pass them up!  Hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

 

This sign doesn't mean that Georgia is filled with so many skinny folks that they can't keep their pants up.  No, siree!  Georgia is home to many buffets, where fried chicken, cornbread and grease are part of the food pyramid.   We do have some young folks who are really proud of their underwear. 

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Signs like this are everywhere.   I thought Missouri was the "Show Me" state.

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I'll never forget when we posted this sign on Facebook.  A very humorous and single friend of mine posted the following comment under this sign...."I'd like to have a hot Doug!"   Well, it wasn't long before she found one.  His name wasn't Doug, but according to her Facebook photos, it looks as though her love life has certainly improved! 

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Curtis attended a drag race at this particular drag strip near Macon just one time.  That's all it took.  Most businesses warn about illegal drugs and alcohol.  In Georgia, there are a few additions.

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St. R Bucks?   

  Do they need to increase the price of their Mocha Lattes to afford a few light bulbs? 

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With a name like Ed Obster, I would vote for him for president. 

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Are you serious?  Don't turn Uncle Ned loose on the Oconee River!

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First of all, we're not very traditional.  We had a nice dinner buffet on the Savannah Riverboat on Christmas Eve.  On Christmas Day, we had a more casual dinner at IHOP (yes, you read IHOP).  When we walked out of IHOP, this is what we saw in front of us.   As a man exited the driver's side, I inquired about his unusual passenger.  He replied with a grin, "Oh yes, that's my son-in-law!"

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You have to understand something.  When you eat at greasy (pronounced gree-zee) All-You-Can-Eat buffets in Georgia, you need to be near a restroom at all times.  Sometimes our digestive systems are not wired for an onslaught of fried catfish, collard greens, hushpuppies and sweet tea.  If you don't believe this, just ask Paula Deen. 

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Four things are really important to Georgia folks:   

Church fish fries, deer hunting, firearms and working bathrooms

 

 

Ecclesiastes 3:  1 - 8 (King James Version)

¹To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

 ²A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

 ³A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

 ⁴A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

 ⁵A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

 ⁶A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

 ⁷A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

 ⁸A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

 

Copyright 2012, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.

 

Waiting for the Turkeys to Cross the Road

 

Article By:  Norma W. Beaird

Photography By:  Curtis Beaird

 

A little over six years ago, I moved to a rural area in Georgia to work at the local college.  I had never lived in a town this small, and for me, it was quite a culture shock.  At first, it was a fascination because I drove to work down a long country road as opposed to a dangerous and traffic-laden interstate.  Instead of stopping at traffic lights, I actually stopped for a family of turkeys to cross the road.  At night, instead of being overwhelmed by city lights and sirens, I was overwhelmed by the number of deer attempting to leap in front of my car.    

In the mornings, I would awake to a serene quietness that you never find in the city.  Instead of horns and screeching brakes, I would hear chirping birds, whistling trees and the irritated geese that lived across the street.  However, the fascination soon wore off and I realized that I was living in “the middle of nowhere”.  Some people call it the “sticks” or the “boonies”, but I called it slow and uninspiring.  My newfound world suddenly turned into something that seemed boring, backwards and remote.  Thus, the complaining began.  I thought I was surely missing out on something.  Then, I thought I had lost something.  Later on, I finally realized that I had lost nothing, but had gained something much more valuable called peace, quiet and renewed faith.

In the past, I was always considered a social butterfly who never met a stranger, and I always enjoyed having a lot of places to go and see.  Having owned a travel business, I enjoyed being on the go.  I appreciated options, and that meant having a wide variety of restaurants, gas stations, malls and discount outlets within a five-mile radius.  Convenience and entertainment always meant a lot to me, until now. 

Sometimes life steps in and changes things.  After my husband recovered from cancer, a heart attack and then a serious retina surgery, the recovery time forced us both back into an appreciation for the simple and quiet things of life.  Healing takes time and requires peace and quiet.  Later on, after I went through a surgery and recovery time, I found myself yearning less for action and yearning more for tranquility.  This slow way of life was now agreeing with me.  Trust me; it’s easier to recuperate when you’re not living a fast-paced life under stress while listening to sirens and loud neighbors.

Unlike the modern culture of “bigger is better”, we live in a country cottage and we are approximately ninety minutes from the nearest mall.  We’re about thirty minutes from a department store, but that’s okay.  Not having immediate access to materialistic pleasures has taught me something about life that should be evident to most human beings, but as usual, we have to learn the valuable lessons the hard way.  Life is best enjoyed when a person is not overwhelmed with noise and stuff.  If I want or need something, I may have to drive a while to find it, or order it online.  But again, that’s okay, because living in the country teaches a person to have patience while calming a restless spirit.   

Constant stimulation with no rest leaves very little room for creativity, imagination and logical thought process.  In the Old Testament, we read in the book of Genesis that the Lord rested on the seventh day.  If the Lord found it important to rest, and we’re created in His image, then we need to rest as well.  It’s okay to stay home sometimes and not attend every game, every meeting and every concert.  It’s okay to take a vacation or sit on the front porch.  Sometimes it’s okay to say “No”.   It’s easier to heal when your calendar is not full. 

My husband and I love to go to the city, but we’ve been in the country long enough that the city noise now drives us bonkers.  Driving in city traffic feels like a punishment for something we didn’t do.  Being pushed through large crowds reminds me of being herded like cattle.  It’s amazing what living the simple life can do for you.  Consequently, you don’t realize how much you enjoy simplicity until you’re thrust into the middle of chaos.

A life of simplicity has affected other areas as well.  We don’t own a microwave oven.  My husband and I have collected old-fashioned cast iron cookware.  One of my greatest joys in the kitchen is frying an egg on a round cast iron skillet, and, I must admit that butter-coated wheat bread tastes the best when heated on the same skillet where you fried the egg.   I love to fry an egg and make toast for him and take it out to the front porch.  He eats breakfast while watching Henry, our front porch lizard, crawl in and out of the Boston Ferns.  Yes, something has definitely happened to us.  And no, we didn’t lose our minds; we reclaimed our sanity.  We traded stress for peace.  We have learned that being busy and being productive can reside at opposite ends of the spectrum. 

Simplicity is completely underrated.  Sometimes, life brings us to a place where we are forced to reckon with what is really important.  We realize that more is not always satisfying or even better.  Sometimes, we realize that less is more and that more stuff just means more debt and more responsibility.  In the end, it all goes to a yard sale or a landfill.  Sometimes, the best things in life are truly free and they don’t require a storage unit.  God will never send us a bill for viewing a gorgeous sunset, a butterfly or a red-headed woodpecker.  The Lord won’t charge us for peace and tranquility.  Our Creator provided a world of beauty that can’t be bought with silver or gold.  You can’t put a price on love, hope, family or nature.   Learn to enjoy the priceless things in life without a price tag.  Take back what the culture stole from you and learn to enjoy the simple life.  Sometimes we need to wait for the turkeys to cross the road.      

 

Copyright 2011, Norma W. Beaird.  All rights reserved.