Opening for a Rock Star

[Restlessness - XI]

The rock star struts on stage to thousands of fans cheering his name. He could wear a pink silk shirt and dirty work jeans. The crowd cheers. He could have a raspy voice and miss half the notes. The crowd still cheers. He could stop singing all together. The crowd will finish his song and cheer when it’s over.

If the opener—the aspiring rock star that hasn’t made it big—wore a pink silk shirt, missed a note, and stopped singing, the crowd would definitely not cheer. They might even boo.

The crowd is restless. They paid. They want the star. Singing or not. Pink silk or not.

The opener is nervous and trying to negotiate authenticity and fulfilling expectations. The crowd paid, wants the rock star, and is impatient.

Restlessness is often the residual of impatience. Consequently, the crowd might miss the next rock star.

Nervousness is often the residual of fearing failure. The opener might miss this great opportunity.

The crowd and the opener are in us all.

Patience settles restlessness . . . that we might discover what’s new.
Ignoring the unreasonable expectations of others settles our nerves . . . that we might embody authenticity.

(The future rock star might even be in us, too.)