Comments for Sparks from the Fire

Comment on Victory! – New Easter Song by Mary Nickerson

Mary Nickerson — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 14:24:54 +0000

Dear Peter,
Thanks so much for writing back so quickly, but especially for getting those question marks out of there. Now I can relax and enjoy your song’s beautiful message.

Comment on Victory! – New Easter Song by Peter Link

Peter Link — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 03:55:06 +0000

Hi Mary,
Imagine my dismay when I read your email. You are, of course, correct and that embarrassing gaff has been corrected. Alas, I fear. too late for your church. I appreciate your writing and letting me know and will continue to work harder at this challenge called “proofreading”. Actually, I have just checked all the other places including my original word document where I wrote the Blog Post and there are no question marks after Jesus’ name. That’s 5-6 documents in total. This means that the mistake is actually a coding problem made by Word Press after I copied and pasted my word document into the site. Bummer. That’s why I missed it. I’m not passing the buck here and do take responsibility for the mistake. After all, it is my Blog. But at least it perhaps will tell you that I’m not so bad a guy as you may have thought. It could have happened days after I did the final proof of my post. I would not have normally missed such a critical error.

All that said, the error is now fixed — thanks to you.

Error uncovered. Truth clarifies.

Thanks for writing in.

Comment on Victory! – New Easter Song by Mary Nickerson

Mary Nickerson — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 02:53:39 +0000

Dear Mr. Link,
Your song “Victory!” was sung as the solo at my branch church on Easter Sunday. Copies of the text were also handed out. Imagine my dismay when I noticed that you had a question mark after Jesus Christ’s name. His name had a question mark after it all eight times it was mentioned in the text. My daughter looked up this blog site, and you also have a question mark after Jesus Christ’s name everywhere on this blog–even in the “Thanks be to God . . .” quote just below the photograph up above. Please consider carefully proofreading future blogs.

Comment on Lyman, The Jock — Part 2 by Bonnie Wilson

Bonnie Wilson — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 20:31:48 +0000

Peter, sorry I didn’t read this yesterday; actually, I read Part 1 yesterday. This was so much fun to read; felt like I was there as you were standing on first base wondering how in the world your Dad was going to hit the baseball. And I loved your mention of Stan Musial; the tributes here in St. Louis at his passing were so heartwarming. Thanks for letting us all share in your family memories!

Comment on Clarification Of Intent by Peter Link

Peter Link — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:57:35 +0000

Hallelujah and thank you for this terrific comment and response. Well said and heartfelt!

Comment on Clarification Of Intent by Lynn Denne

Lynn Denne — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:09:36 +0000

This reminds me a bit of the “complaint from a non-customer” blog. There really is this ongoing need for educating our fellow church members, etc. on the ethics and reality of our business. I have carefully honed my own little speech on why I do not “give” out a copy of one of my solos, by way of one simple act on the magical Xerox machine. I explain the facts behind the privilege of acquiring these works of art, re-use fees in recording, proper payment for what some perceive as a glorified hobby, and that I once had an accompanist who also worked as a “spy” for ASCAP. She had stories of catching folks red-handed at concerts with illegal copies of things–school orchestras, church choirs, etc. who decided to just buy one and copy 20 more in the office. It may be budget restrictions or just plain being unaware, but it is absolutely all about that clear Commandment on not stealing. Somehow, our definitions of stealing have acquired new and fun titles: ripping off, borrowing, and my personal favorite—sharing. I also no longer use the word “play”, when I refer to my violin work. Haven’t for years. I say “work”. My instrumental and vocal work is just that. Work. Time is money. The product is money. When a current stops flowing, it is stagnant. There needs to be constant circulation, which is a give and take. A favorite hymn says, “Gratitude is riches, complaint is poverty”. So, when we are gratefully willing to pay for these gifts of Soul, we cannot be deprived, we are blessed in our honesty. We find a kind of fresh, newfound sense of abundance on many fronts, an acknowledging of beauty and balance, and uncover our innate unwillingness to cheapen something of value. We cannot be deprived of what we ourselves need, when we bless another by valuing their work. This is love in action. AND, to go along with yet another title from a recent blog…what goes around comes around. Blessings.

Comment on What Goes Around Comes Around by Norm

Norm — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 11:33:27 +0000

Peter,
Yes, I’ve seen similar acts of kindness on the subways I ride in Boston. It would be a disservice to call them “random.” I really see them as the natural goodness in each of us coming out—unexpectedly, instinctively—to diffuse or harmonize a situation. Loved hearing of your experience and your immediate “payback.” Peace.

Comment on What Goes Around Comes Around by Bonnie Wilson

Bonnie Wilson — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 05:20:52 +0000

I’ve been behind in reading your inspirations, Peter, and I say “Amen” to what Jenny said above. You were beautifully inspired to help out those dear women on the subway in such an amazing way and then passed it on to someone else as you left, and your good deed was answered in your own protection by the next good Samaritan.