Turning What You Love into What You Do
By Patrick J. O’Connor
This blog segment provides an overview of a guy who has turned what he loves into what he does. Part II will focus specifically on the music journey including some of the song lyrics. This guy happens to be my brother.
“Music is a great healer. Begin and end your day with music.” ~Lailah Akita
The Journey Begins
John always enjoyed listening to music and even learned to play guitar while in college. He and a dorm-mate played for roommates and friends. After graduation though, he stepped away from playing. Some 25 years later, he returned to music, as his job provided traveling downtime and he wanted to keep busy. Also, he wanted to get his granddaughters, Taylor and Ashely, interested in music. This motivated him to relearn guitar and take some lessons. Then, all sorts of wonderful things happened. He was on his way to turning what he loves into what he does.
The journey took a big step when John joined a church praise band. Initially, he offered to substitute for someone. This turned into a full-time commitment for many years. In addition, most of those musicians turned out to be the musical friends he would spend years entertaining with in all sorts of settings.
He now has a music room filled with guitars and ukuleles and numerous song books related to his varied musical interests. Along the way, he has captured a lifetime of wonderful memories connected through music. John’s musical adventure has been wide and deep. Mostly, it has focused on two main areas which often overlap: family and community.
Family
Family is a big word for John. He has his immediate family of six, his own family with his wife Sue, (three children and ten grandchildren) and a great-grandchild Hanna, soon to arrive. He also has an extended family consisting of many friends from work, church and community. Both families are connected through music. A good example is the guitar lessons he took with his friend Terry, who wound up joining John and his musical circle at their events. Even Terry’s dad joined in.
Songs for family members have been a big part of John’s musical journey, too. Some years ago, he wrote and performed songs for his mother and his wife. He has also performed songs for family members at graduations, weddings and even funerals. Most family vacations and holiday celebrations include music with John directing the fun. His family stage name is “Pop” which morphs into “Johnie O” for open-mic nights.
Many of his musical friends love attending music festivals. John and his friend Sutton even wrote songs about the festivals and played them for everyone. He and Sutton also wrote and performed a song for their company at its 40th anniversary celebration. A long-time pet lover, John even wrote songs for his family pets.
Another fond annual event is the St. Patrick’s Day celebration he and Sue host to celebrate John’s Irish heritage. Sue prepares the corned beef while John dishes up colcannon to everyone’ s delight. A highlight of the event is John teaching and leading everyone in singing traditional Irish songs.
Community
John, his immediate family and his extended family share their love of music in many ways in their community. The love is alive at nursing homes, churches, prisons and at the Salvation Army kettle each Christmas. Playing and singing Christmas carols warms many hearts.
A major commitment for John was when he was called to serve in the Kairos prison ministry. For some 14 years, he and other lay people and clergy spend weekends in a Florida prison. Kairos (Greek for “Godʼs special time”) is a ministry program rooted in the Gospel of Matthew, “…I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:36).
Music is a main feature of the program. John has joined in with other musicians, and at times, even served as the music leader.
Kairos participants believe, “by sharing the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, Kairos hopes to change hearts, transform lives and impact the world.”
“Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens.”― Maria von Trapp
A Lifetime of Memories through Music
Some of John’s favorite musical memories are times with his family when he has performed songs dedicated to a specific family member. He and his wife Sue have a large (20-member) family and have spent many summer vacations and holidays together with music always a constant.
Writing songs for friends at music festivals has been a real highlight. He and his co-writer (and former co-worker) Sutton have shared many wonderful musical memories writing, playing and singing together. Many of the same people continue sharing and celebrating their love for music and each other.
Part II of John’s musical journey will explore the celebration.
