The Notes with Andrew Nemr: The Vault

Revelations

Andrew Nemr — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 05:00:44 GMT

Every person gets a revelation. They get a particular vision of the world that is revealed to them. Sometimes a few people get similar revelations. Some are more specific than others. Each one comes with responsibility.

The responsibility is twofold: Test the revelation against the moral code that is already written on your heart, and live it out.

Familiarity

Andrew Nemr — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 05:00:28 GMT

Familiar things are easy. We know them. They give a sense of safety and security. But just because something is familiar doesn’t make it good, or right. Just ask the child who grew up in an unhealthy environment.

There comes a time when we are awoken to the difference between what we are familiar with and what we know to be good. At that time we have a r…

The Camera

Andrew Nemr — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 05:00:13 GMT

When a camera enters a room, something changes. People’s attention shifts. For those greatly affected you see their eyes shift, the body language change, and either the dawning of a unique performance quality or the shrinking of their entire being because of fear.

This same shift can happen to a child when they come within the sphere of influence of ther…

Giving

Andrew Nemr — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 05:00:19 GMT

Sometimes giving is enough. Sometimes giving is what’s needed. Sometimes it’s all we can do.

Regardless, giving out of a spirit of abundance, a heart of generosity, a compassionate response is always better. Better than giving out of obligation, reciprocation, social or cultural pressure, or because we’re incentivized to.

Giving is enough. Giving is what’…

Justification

Andrew Nemr — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 05:00:13 GMT

Everyone stands on something - a foundation that provides the undergirding for whatever they stand for.

Foundations vary. It could be our work - what we do. Our accomplishments - what we’ve been recognized for. Who we belong to - our community of peers. Our lineage - who we come from. Our geography - where we come from. Or most potently, our value set - …

Numbered days

Andrew Nemr — Sat, 20 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Lots of people don’t like talking about death. Some people do. Some are ambivalent. Some are obsessed. Wherever we are on the spectrum, there is a truth in nature that is this: everything dies. The cycle of birth, life, death exists everywhere.

Over the course of my life I’ve experienced moments when I was very fearful of death. Other moments when my mor…

Something Happens at Funerals

Andrew Nemr — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 05:00:09 GMT

Tap dancers have a tradition at funerals. We dance.

I was 12 when I first experienced this at the service for Lon Chaney (the tap dancer, not the actor). It was beautiful. It wasn’t a performance. It was a ritual. An expression of connection, remembering, and celebration. I’d never experienced anything like it.

There’s another thing that I’ve experienced …

Safety and Sanctification

Andrew Nemr — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 05:00:39 GMT

Safety is a good thing. It is the feeling of protection from all the things that would cause us harm. Shelter and clothing protect us from most elements. A gathering of people can protect us from the feeling of isolation.

Sanctification is a good thing. It is the continual process of formation, purification, and perfection. Revelations of who we are, int…

You Can't Always Do...

Andrew Nemr — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 05:00:37 GMT

We get to do whatever we want. Do we really? The idea of freedom is idolized in today’s culture. We want freedom of speech, freedom of religion, some of us dance so that we might feel a kind of physical freedom that we don’t experience in our day-to-day lives.

The tap dancer Chuck Green said, “You can’t always do what you want to do. You have to do what’…

Being Responsible

Andrew Nemr — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 05:00:28 GMT

I’ve been thinking a lot about words lately, and this one came to mind: responsible. We know the weight of this word as derived from responsibilities. All the things we have to do. But what does being responsible really mean?

To be responsible is to be able to respond. In order to respond one must first have a grasp of the situation one is responding to.…

When a Root is Severed

Andrew Nemr — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 05:00:29 GMT

There is a learning that happens that’s deeper than stuff. Past all the information, and beyond all the experiences. There is a learning that goes to the formation of a person. The stuff of character. Who they are and how they will be in the world.

It’s happening all the time, but where? Who is deemed responsible in society for this formation of characte…

Close Your Eyes

Andrew Nemr — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 05:00:07 GMT

I was at the mixing session for the new Holler Jake (@hollerjakemusic) record when the engineer began to turn down all the lights in the room. I looked up from where I was to make sure everything was okay. The engineer said, “Sorry man, I just had to make it a little darker. I hear better that way."

The human body is an amazing creation. It does things o…

The Shadow

Andrew Nemr — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 05:00:22 GMT

Shadows are interesting. They have a reputation of being related to darkness, evil, mystery, etc., but not always. The common phrase, “they cast a long shadow,” has to do with a person’s reach and influence, but is used most commonly after someone has past away. The shadow cast by a tree provides cover from the heat of the sun. We give the shadows cast …

Forever

Andrew Nemr — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 05:00:40 GMT

I had a recent moment of revelation when watching the documentary, I Called Him Morgan, about jazz trumpeter and composer Lee Morgan. The moment occurred during an interview with composer and saxophonist Wayne Shorter. Recounting his time with Morgan while in the studio for a series of quintessential recordings for Blue Note Records, Shorter describes t…

When you miss a day

Andrew Nemr — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 05:00:57 GMT

Some streaks go the distance. The first 21 days of a new habit, new route to work, new personal routine, workout, or eating habit, are often the hardest. But if the goal is to make something permanent, then the first 21 days is just the beginning.

A few weeks ago I started a personal challenge after reading this blog post by Seth Godin. My personal chall…

Close the Loop

Andrew Nemr — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 05:00:56 GMT

You can tell when someone isn't paying attention. When they are distracted while you're in their company. You can sense a shift. Something is different about them. Something changes in how you are around them.

There was a time when it was easier to tell whether the distraction was something major (a loved one's illness or death, financial burdens, etc.),…

The Beginner's Mind

Andrew Nemr — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 05:00:19 GMT

I walk on stage and it's time to perform. The audience expects that I know what I'm doing, and show them. This is all correct. However, on a macro level, this heightens the value of confidence and familiarity while diminishing the value of questioning and surprise discovery. It becomes more important to be well rehearsed than open to possibilities.

The m…

Fast, Strong, and Loud

Andrew Nemr — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 05:00:19 GMT

There are easy ways to get attention. Be the fastest, strongest, or loudest. This works in sports, arts, and business. You'll impress people with your super human speed and strength, and be sure to be heard and seen with your loudness.

But while you zoom by you might miss something beautiful. Your display of strength might cultivate a spartan culture. An…

Sitting with a Question

Andrew Nemr — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 05:00:32 GMT

Some questions are too big to answer. Maybe there’s too much nuance and complexity for the kind of answer that we want. Or maybe an answer simply doesn't exist yet. When you hit one of those questions what do you do?

Do you have a practice that gives you perspective, peace, energy? Is it physical or meditative, distractive or divergent? Does the practice…

The Minority Report

Andrew Nemr — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 05:00:26 GMT

Not every man is a sexual predator. Not every woman is a feminist. Not every white person is racist. Not every person who identifies as a minority is oppressed.

The stories we are often told have a way of summarizing with sweeping generalizations. The generalizations are rooted in truth, of course, but ignore and ultimately suppress any divergent narrati…