Through my travels and discussions with different people about shining the light in the world, I’ve encountered a common concern. Many people I talk with say they find it hard to get together a big group of people. I also hear, “It’s hard for me to be in front of a large group of people.”

When I was recently in Seattle, I had a realization: shining your light in the world can happen in the most unusual and most inconspicuous places.

Childhood Friends

I had the chance to get together with my friends Guy “Monkey Fingers” Johnson and Terry “The Maestro” Kingen, two childhood friends of mine I reunited with a couple of years ago. Back in the day, we used to play in bands together. When he was 10 years old, Guy could play Jimi Hendrix lick for lick, and Jimmy Page didn’t have a chance against this child prodigy. All he had to do was listen to a song twice, maybe three times, and he could play with the best of them.

Terry, on the other hand, was the maestro of the gang. While we were listening to Led Zeppelin records and banging out blues box sleep patterns, Terry was studying with the best jazz guitar players in the area. We jokingly made the comment, “Play the mixolydian mode with a flat at 13th!” and Terry smiled and actually did it! We had no idea that what we were saying could actually be done. Those were some of the happiest memories of my childhood.

Reunited

We reunited after a 20-year separation. For the past three years I get together with my dear friends every time I go to Seattle. In this video, Terry, Guy, and I went out for burgers. After some good food and great conversation, we went back to Guy’s house. In his basement, he had a 1960s Harmony guitar that was cracked, had a bowed necked, and was barely in playing condition. He also had an old Yamaha guitar.

As usual when we get together, music just begins to happen. And it’s pure magic! It occurred to me as I pulled my iPhone out and began filming these two amazing musicians that everyone who comes from the heart with what they do brings their gift to the world and shines their light in the world, no matter what they’re doing or where they’re doing it.

A Vortex of Joy

In this dingy basement in Everett, Washington, there was a vortex of joy that was opened up, pouring so much goodness into the world it made me think: if everyone came from the heart the way these two do when they play their guitars, there would be so much joy in the world that there would be no time for any bad things to happen.

So for those of you that think you need to have a large crowd or a predetermined protocol in order to bring your gift to the world, think again. Do what you do with passion. Do what you do with joy. Open up a vortex of good energy and let it flow through you.

Once the Music Starts to Flow…

It’s kind of funny because Guy had performed the night before and was going to perform the night after. His voice was shot. We were all tired and it was late. But once the music started to flow, there was no sense of time or space, only joy, creativity, and good energy.

I must say a special thanks to Terry Kingen who has been mentoring me on guitar for the last couple of years. His patience, kindness, and amazing knowledge has helped me step into a place where maybe someday I’ll be a guitar player in one of my videos! Thank you, Terry!

Enjoy the music! This is what happens when I’m in Seattle and the boys get together!