Sparks from the Fire

1. The ability to inspire enthusiasm, interest, or affection in others by means of personal charm or influence

Elton John

In the early decades of my life this word was not at all in everyday usage.  Now you hear it all the time.  “He or She really has charisma.”  If we are fortunate enough in life to be charismatic, we have the ability to draw people to us by the sheer force of our God-given magnetism.

2. A gift or power believed to be divinely bestowed

So it’s not to be bought in a bottle and applied vigorously twice a day; rather, it’s a gift from God.  So the next question is, “How do I get me some?”  Or is God selective and only bestows favors on favorites?  Not the God I believe in.  I believe we earn our charisma through hard work and giving – lots of giving.

I once, at the last minute, was given 2 free tickets to see an Elton John Concert at Madison Square Garden.  Of course I jumped at the chance, grabbed the tickets, a friend, and went, rejoicing at my good fortune.

The seats were terrible, explaining why the tickets were free.  Madison Square Garden is not square, but round, or oblong, with the stage sitting at one end and the audience filling ¾ of the house out front and wrapping around behind the stage.  The seats behind the stage are normally not sold, but this night they were, or perhaps they were just given away.

I laughed at my roller coaster ride of fortune when I saw the seats, for who wants to sit behind the band and watch and listen from the rear.  Not I.  But we decided to stay for a bit just to see the event from this peculiar perspective.

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Faith…
I sat in my favorite chair. I knew it was time to figure the problem out. I had been struggling with it for over a year and needed to get my arms around it because I knew it was a great idea and great ideas just don’t come along that often.

Flash back one year. Jenny Burton and I have just finished a show in Boca Raton and are driving up the coast of Florida. We get into a long discussion about her career and where it’s going. We have this great idea! We shall put together a group of 9 of our favorite NY studio singers behind her and do a show of Inspirational music.

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