water for the promised land.

hmmm, where to begin? it has been a busy past few days and i am still loving every minute of it! this is really my last leisurely day until i have another day off and i have no idea when that will happen!

let's see, i'll start with today and then sum up the past two. my wonderful voice teacher arrived late last night and met with me on rather short notice to give me a quick lesson. [scene and summer concert auditions are tomorrow.] it was absolutely wonderful. i found my voice again and felt free and open. he's working with me on not packing my breath, because i take a great breath, but have trouble releasing it effectively. let me remind you singers, BREATH IS EVERYTHING! it seems so simple, but seriously, 99.9% of the issues i have are related directly to not taking and releasing an adequate breath through a straight and aligned column of my body. i suppose all of us young singers will eventually get there. vinson always reminds me to be gentle and patient with myself...my head knows what to do, but actually doing it takes time. after the lesson he smiled at me and asked, "do you feel better now?"
"oh yes! so much better!" i exclaimed. he knows me so well. :)

the past couple of days included an excursion to the most beautifully located target ever, really great ice cream, and some time spent with friends who recently arrived. the biggest event was the first libretto read-through of b. britten's a midsummer night's dream. it was sooo much fun, and a little bit terrifying as i am probably the youngest and most inexperienced person in the room. however, everyone is so nice and so wonderfully talented. i was impressed with the level of acting coming out of a bunch of opera singers...aren't we just supposed to stand there and sing? ;) i am very excited to work with all of them and our director. he is great! also, the fairy world costume designs are incredible, as the inspiration comes from alexander mcqueen (check out the link on the exhibit at the metropolitan museum) and lady gaga. so awesome! they are hoping to put oberon, the fairy king, in 7 inch platform shoes. whoa.

on a different note... comparing yourself to others only makes you unhappy. it is one of the Enemy's best tactics and so easy to fall prey to. it creates insecurity, jealousy, hate and dissension. all things the Enemy loves. you know, you're the beloved of God. there's no need to compare yourself to anyone. i'm finding my identity in Him who gives me life in his abundant, eternal, self-existent love.  i'm also continually realizing that you cannot be happy with other people if you are not first happy with yourself. Christ instructs us to "love others as you love yourself," implying that we already have a healthy, God-breathed self love. this does not make one selfish. rather, loving yourself the way God has intended for you to love yourself allows you to be selfless.


lastly, it is incredibly dry here. i think there is even a warning for fires in places below 7 000 ft. [aspen is 8 000, fewf.] and with that i can't help but think of all the biblical metaphors involving dryness and water. whether God provided literal water for his people to drink, or refreshed their souls with His Living Water, like the samaritan woman at the well. His water is deep and refreshing and never runs dry. thirsty?


[you sent abundant rain, o God, to refresh the weary Promised Land. psalm 68:9]


.samantha.