The Spark of Creation!

Although this is NOT about bass, it IS about me, and since this is MY blog, I guess I should be able to write anything I want. Right!?

I recently posted something on Facebook about a wacky idea that came to me while on vacation in Mammoth last August. That idea became a reality this week and I wondered out loud where exactly did those glimmers of inspiration come from and how I could get another one. Several people were curious about what the inspiration exactly was so I’ve directed them here to read about it.

For those who don’t know, I own and operate a dental x-ray lab in Huntington Beach. Our lab serves an average of 25 unique patients each day and we use several types of fairly specialized equipment. If one of our machines goes down, the minimum time to get a service tech out, diagnose the problem, order the parts and do the repair is three days. That’s the MINIMUM! So, if we break down, that’s close to 100 patients that need to be rescheduled. While our equipment has been very reliable over the years, I’m uncomfortable with that level of risk.

Consequently, about a dozen years ago I decided I needed redundancy! So I bought backup equipment for every x-ray machine I had. My philosophy was that if I NEVER needed it, that meant my machines always worked properly and my life was smooth. However, if I DID need it, I’d be the smartest guy on the planet to have planned ahead so smartly. This was back in the days when we used film and equipment was fairly reasonable to purchase.

In the last year and a half, my lab made the conversion to 100% digital. Digital x-ray equipment is quite a bit more expensive than film, plus it all has to be new (used technology of this type is pretty rare) so this was quite a costly endeavor. I sold or abandoned some of my film based equipment, but held on to a few pieces just in case of emergency. After over a year of not being used, I started to wonder about the wisdom of holding on to the old machines “just in case”.

Early on the first day of my vacation last August (prior to leaving for Mammoth), I had a meeting with an x-ray school, during which they expressed a desire to pick up some film based x-ray equipment. I offered to give them mine (it really had no value and I’d rather see it go to help educate the next generation of technicians). They accepted, we said goodbye and I headed off on my vacation. Over the first few days, as I thought about this decision I became increasingly uncomfortable. By giving away my old machines, I was putting myself in the same position I was in over a decade ago, and if redundancy was reasonable then, it was even more reasonable today. But what should I do? Back out of the deal? Go “bare” with no backup? I was at a real loss.

About the third day of vacation, as I waited half asleep in bed for the sun to rise, I was pondering my dilemma when the wacky thought came to me, “Buy another digital machine as your backup”. This was a crazy idea, not only from left field but maybe even from the parking lot in left field! These machines are quite expensive (along the lines of a nice Mercedes or BMW). Owning ONE of them placed me at the leading edge of my field. Having TWO qualified me as a wacko! But it did kind of make sense. So I did some research, made some measurements, walked through the different scenarios, got some bids, looked at my books, and decided to go for it.

There was a lot of work to do to get ready for the new machine, including moving the old equipment out, repairing and repainting the walls, preparing the new installation site, moving a computer and some shelves, all the while carrying the burden of wondering if I had made a huge mistake.

Two weeks ago the machine arrived and the installation was smooth and uneventful. A few days later when the service tech came out to do the calibration, he informed me that my idea of using two machines would not work, even though I had been assured by tech support that it would. In order to do what I had envisioned, I would need to use two computers, one for each machine. This was NOT what I had in mind, especially considering the amount of money I spent for the machine. I was quite disappointed and wondered where I had gone wrong. Did I misinterpret the spark of inspiration? Was I living in fear rather than faith, trying to protect myself from every possible problem? Was I just stupid? After a brief crisis, I put the ball back in his court and informed him that while this was not his problem, I was making it his problem, and I commissioned him to find me a solution. He gave it a weak try and came up with a pretty lame workaround then left with a promise to look into it a little more.

More than once in my life I’ve found myself at the mercy of a service tech who didn’t really care about my problem and was unable to think outside the box for a solution, so I decided, if it was going to BE, it would have to be ME! I started trying different workarounds and very quickly came up with a simple yet effective one. I hoped that my service guy would come back with a simple solution but just in case he didn’t, I was armed and ready. He returned to my lab on Monday with the bad news that no one had any ideas on how to solve my problem. I thanked him for his effort, asked him to keep working on it, and sent him on his way. I then implemented MY workaround and waited for my first patient.

The next day was the day I posted my comment on Facebook. My workaround performs perfectly, my lab runs very smoothly (better than it ever has), and I sit here today in awe of how a thought can be conceived in the human mind at the most unexpected moment, and with a little time and perseverance (and some money) it can come to life in a matter of weeks.

As some have suggested and I most firmly believe, the spark of inspiration can certainly be the evidence of the hand of God. But I also believe that humans, being made in the image of God, contain a natural spark of creation. While some have more than others, I believe all humans possess that spark. After all, how many monkeys do you see playing the violin? Or, as creative as cats are, how many of them paint pictures? Or sing songs? Or write poetry? Or design web sites? Or envision water treatment plants? (You get what I’m saying.) I’m ready to believe with gratitude that God gave me that spark of inspiration, but I’m also a bit awestruck that my species, the human race, has been given such an incredible gift, the gift of creation, using the things that God created to make new and amazing things. Wow!

NAMM Show

I went to the NAMM show last weekend and in addition to seeing a lot of very cool gear, I picked up a couple of Christian Worship magazines. It's interesting that 3 of the articles in one of the magazines were written by people I am acquainted with. That doesn't reflect directly at all on me except to show that I have had the good fortune to rub elbows over the years with some pretty accomplished people. That's Cool!

Most of the information contained in the magazines was of little value to me in my role as a bass player. However, there were two articles that spoke directly to me, especially at the point where I find myself today - with no home church to do my ministry, and no visible hope for one in the near future.

The first dealt with the "Bass Player Psyche". In it, Gary Lunn says, "Being blessed to have played with some of the finest musicians in the world (and some not-so fine), I have figured out that I almost always play more inspired parts whenever I am playing with inspiring musicians - and especially drummers. If I am not playing with a drummer who will lead with authority, steadiness, and consistency, it creates a struggle, because the roles are reversed. The added tension and added responsibility costs the band a right, solid foundation and everything becomes a challenge." He added, "Bass players have a sensitivity and perception of time (rhythm) unlike anyone else's in the band. They also have a nature to follow unlike any other band member." At this time in my life where I occasionally get to play with some of the finest drummers in the world, I really identify with his observations. The tension and struggle he talks about is so distracting and can be very discouraging.

Which brings me to the second article, dealing with "Building Teams". Heidi Todd relates her experience of being invited to be part of the worship team at the age of twelve. She shares, "The first worship leader to seek me out challenged my walk with God. The whole team kept prayer journals. We had accountability within the team and our leader. We were expected to come prepared and with the right attitude. He was committed to prayer, being in the word, fasting, prayer, and prayer. What a great beginning. It was natural to assume all worship teams were like that and I came away with a new level of spiritual discipline and work ethic."

I have to admit my first real worship team experience was similar to that. Unfortunately it wasn't at my home church. The desire of my heart is to be involved in an experience like that in my home church. Today that seems unlikely. But my hope rests in the promise of Luke 1:37, "Nothing is impossible with God."