Inspiring Encounters, or, Cages or Wings; which do you prefer?

Every once and a while you have one of those days - a day which is too filed with coincidence to not be proof of a “destonic” or scientific force thrusting us as though we were pawns on a cosmic chess board.

The last time one of these profound instances occurred was when I was in college, granted it happened in a Clear Lake, IA, Perkins at around 3 in the morning.

Late last week, I was out at the Toasted Frog (shameless plug here - go, if you haven't been there) with some collogues and my roommate. Someone asked my roommate, a musician, what he was all about - what he was doing in his life. Though he is a pysch major and in a popular band, he responded with, "I try to wake up with a smile on my face, and go to sleep with a smile on my face. I try to do something exceptional every single day."

I turned to him and wondered aloud if he was a unicorn. Rarely do you meet a person with such a passion for life - in all forms.

As the evening progressed, even Margret Mead's famous quote to “never underestimate the ability of a small group of committed individuals to change the world,” worked its way in to the conversation. In fact, it was those words spoken to a then chair of an arts board that inspired future successes.

If this wasn't enough, I recently grilled with a close friend who is trying some scary career stuff - fabulous, but still scary. In our discussion, she told me she just has a desire to transcend herself - to use life's journey to find a way to challenge herself... a way to go beyond what she thinks she is capable of.

I guess you could call me blessed. I am surrounded by these profound people with big ideas, a lot of gumption, and a massive amount of drive. In many ways its humbling.

I often wonder where complacency comes from. I see a lot of it in the upper Midwest. I see a lot of settling, a lot of placid behavior. While these aren't intrinsically terrible thing - they do breed a culture of mediocrity. How do we inspire our generation to reach for more? How do we create a legacy for the future?

Before the revolutionary rock musical Rent, Jonathan Larson tells his own story in the musical tick, tick...BOOM! The show talks about facing crossroads in life and holding onto your dreams. It tells the story of Jonathan, a promising young composer on the eve of his 30th birthday. His girlfriend wants to get married and move out of the city (tick), his best friend is making big bucks on Madison Avenue (tick), and he's still waiting tables and trying to write the great American musical before time, and life, passes him by (BOOM!). [from website]

One of the most telling songs from the show is called Louder Than Words. It is basically the questions that challenge Jonathan to keep trying to become a compoesr.

Why do we play with fire? Why do we run our finger through the flame? Why do we leave our hand on the stove- Although we know we're in for some pain?

Why do we refuse to hang a light when the streets are dangerous? Why does it take an accident before the truth gets through to us?

Cages or wings? Which do you prefer? Ask the birds. Fear or love, baby? Don't say the answer; actions speak louder than words.

Why should we try to be our best when we can just get by and still gain? Why do we nod our heads although we know the boss is wrong as rain?

Why should we blaze a trail when the well worn path seems safe and so inviting? How-as we travel, can we see the dismay- and keep from fighting?

Cages or wings? Which do you prefer? Ask the birds. Fear or love, baby? Don't say the answer; actions speak louder than words.

What does it take to wake up a generation? How can you make someone take off and fly?

If we don't wake up and shake up the nation, we'll eat the dust of the world wondering why.

Why do we stay with lovers, who we know, down deep just aren't right? Why would we rather put ourselves through hell than sleep alone at night?

Why do we follow leaders who never lead?

Why does it take catastrophe to start a revolution?

If we're so free, tell me why? Someone tell me why so many people bleed?

Cages or wings? Which do you prefer? Ask the birds. Fear or love, baby? Don't say the answer; actions speak louder than words.

While I am not a "quote lyrics" kind of guy, this song has haunted me. As they lyrics draw to a close, the music is overturned by a piano playing Happy Birthday. On the eve of this man's 30th birthday, what had he accomplished?

His musicals seriously tackle issues such as multiculturalism, addiction, sexual orientation and HIV, although he was himself HIV negative. His artistic vision and goal was to fuse Generation X and the MTV Generation with the world of musical theatre in his work. This mission was clearly accomplished by his magnum opus, Rent, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and won four Tony Awards; the scores of his shows reveal that he was an apt composer and lyricist.

His music was his life. He lived in a loft with no heat on the fifth floor of a building in lower Manhattan and worked as a waiter for about ten years. He struggled, alongside his friend and waiting trainee Jesse L. Martin (who would go on to be Tom Collins in Rent and star in Law and Order). He and his roommates lived in harsh conditions with little money or property.

It took several years for Larson to get Rent produced. He never was discouraged. He knew his musicals could make a difference. He knew a small group of committed people could change the world. He knew he wanted to do something extraordinary. He knew he wanted to transcend his own abilities and talents.

Unfortunately, the story ends in tragedy. Though Rent went on to be one of the most popular shows on Broadway, and became a motion picture, Larson died unexpectedly of an aortic dissection in the early morning on January 25, 1996.

It was ten days before his 36th birthday.

It was only hours after the final dress rehearsal of Rent and the day of its off-Broadway opening.

The show premiered that night, on schedule. Larson's parents (who were flying in for the show anyway) gave their blessing to open the show. The cast had agreed before hand that in light of the tragedy they would just sing through the show that night sitting at 3 tables lined up on stage. But by the time the show got to its high energy "La Vie Boheme", the cast could no longer contain themselves and did the rest of the show as it was meant to be.

An inspiration to live by, Larson's mantra exists all around me. It is everywhere in Grand Forks - people wanting to transcend their own abilities - to do something extraordinary every day.

I think that is amazing. I am humbled by the very thought of it.

Cages or wings? Which do you prefer?

Ask the birds.

Ben :: Team CulturePulse