tag:silverselband.com,2005:/blogs/selmates-57cbe26e-74ab-457c-8f02-c0b692c0b1a5SELMATES2020-08-28T16:14:17-04:00Silverselfalsetag:silverselband.com,2005:Post/64196322020-08-28T16:14:17-04:002022-05-18T04:40:39-04:00Inexorable<p>Inexorable- Not to be persuaded, moved or stopped: relentless(Merriam-Webster)</p>
<p>We all face adversity. Every single day of our life. From traffic and fair-weather friends, to sickness and trying to make ends meet. It's how we deal with adversity that defines us as person. It shapes our personality from the moment we are born, until the moment we pass on. Most of the time, we don't even think about it. We are so used to adversity being a part of our lives, that we just move on through without a second glance. The reason for this is because we learned. We've learned throughout our lives, how to deal with life's every day adversity. But, what happens when a serious brick wall is placed in front of you? Divorce, the big "C", major car repair and you don't have a dime to pay for it. Job loss, or the loss of a loved one, watching major dreams die in front of you. If all of the small adversity moments have defined us, these are the moments that reveal our true character.</p>
<p>There once lived a woman name Judith. Now, if Judith knew anything at all....it was adversity. Her whole life was full of it. For starters, she was born with a hole in her heart. Now, you might say, with today's advances in medicine that not that big of deal. Science has come a long way. And they can fix that. Great!!! However, Judith was born in 1946. And the doctors told her parents she wouldn't live past the age of 12. While the doctors gave their best case scenario, based on the science of medicine of the day, they didn't know the will or spirit, Judith would posses. At the age of 12 Judith had her first heart surgery to fix the hole in her heart. 6 months later, she was back in the cooking line with her sisters on the family farm, serving food to the hungry farm hands.</p>
<p>For the next few years, life was normal for Judith. She graduated high school, married a man name Roy, and settled into life as a married couple. Soon they decided they wanted a child. Try as they might, they could not get pregnant. So, once again Judith looked adversity in the face, and beat it back with adoption papers. The year was 1977, and they adopted a baby boy whose parents were very young(still in high school). They began to raise this child the best they could, despite him being all boy(insert sly grin here lol). Life was good for Judith and Roy. They were happy. Judith worked as a waitress, and Roy as a draftsman at an oil flow meter company. All was well until 1986, when adversity reared it's ugly head once again. Judith's doctor found another irregularity in her heartbeat. And after many, many tests, it was decided she needed open heart surgery to insert an artificial heart valve into her heart. This would mean no more work for at least a year(remember it's 1986). Which would mean less income and larger medical bills. "not to be persuaded, moved, or stopped" Judith went forward with the surgery. It was a very hard time. Money was tight...and non-existent. Bills were piling up. And in the midst, a young boy was growing up.</p>
<p>The next few years were not very pretty, by "normal standards". Yet, Judith and Roy got by. They made ends meet. They pushed through. That is until 1996, when the test results came back positive...Breast Cancer. As is with any Cancer, it was serious. However, the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes on both sides under her arms. Judith, Roy, and their recently graduated son, were devastated. Her son took it really hard. Wondering how a loving God could allow so much pain to happen to one person?! Though she was scared, her main concern remained for her family. As usual, she dried her tears, put a smile on her face, and told her family that God would see her through. And if He didn't, she would just be home earlier than she thought.</p>
<p>First came the radiation. Then the double mastectomy and then the limp node removal. What followed was chemo, and more medication than anyone should have to stomach. She lost every single bit of her hair, and chose to wear a wig proudly(it once flew off in a crowd of people, due to a strong wind.....she just walked over, picked it up, stuck it under her arm, and went on as if nothing happened). The shear amount of medication, over time, caused her skin to create these lesions that pussed and hurt terribly 24/7.</p>
<p>In 2001 Roy received a phone call he had been dreading. While he prayed daily that God would not allow Judith to suffer anymore, he also prayed that God would give him as much time on this earth with her as he could have. However, on this morning, God had other plans for Judith's healing and called her home, as Judith would have said it. Roy rushed to the hospital, only to find he was too late. She had passed on only moments before he arrived.</p>
<p>To most, Judith's life would be a tragedy. But what you don't know about her, is the point of this story. What you don't know is that, even though Judith had just had open heart surgery, she was never actually thinking of herself. She would hear about a need in her community, through the Southern Baptist Grapevine(a group of women who would talk daily on the phone), and she would find a way to meet that need. Whether it was clothes, or food, or an encouraging word for someone who was going through a hard time. What you don't know is Judith became known as "Momma Judy" to every local college student who happened across her path. They would come by her house for Sunday lunch. If she was where she could prepare it, she would. If she couldn't that day, from being too weak, she would have the students cook it with her direction. At times Judith would have as many as 15 to 20 students coming by on Sunday afternoon. Her philosophy was that their mother wasn't there to cook for them, so it was now her job. What you don't know is that Judith worked deals with the local super markets to allow people she knew were in need, to have free food. She did all of these things and more, from right after her open heart surgery, through the cancer days, all the way through the end of her life on this earth. And she did it all with a smile on her face. What you don't know is that when it came time for her funeral, there was standing room only. In fact they had to open the doors at the back because people just kept pouring in. This was not a super star, or a musician, or pro athlete. She was simply and extraordinarily, Judith, Momma Judy, Mrs. Judy.....Mom.</p>
<p>The life that Judith led has been a inspiration to me in all that I do, not just my musical career. Not just because I lived it with her. Or the fact that I watched the pain in her eyes, and a smile on her face, day in and day out. Or the fact that she was my mother. The life of Judith is an inspiration, because we can all learn something from her. Can we smile in the face of certain defeat? Can we #TurnTheLoveUpLoud on those around us, while we're in the midst of major trials? If we are honest with ourselves....no, would be our answer most of the time. However, it's something we can strive for. Something that we can work towards in our daily lives. When adversity comes calling....will you be like Judith? Will you take up the mantle of love in a time of hate? Will you look adversity in the face, and stand your ground, no matter what? Will you, like Judith......be Inexorable?</p>
<p>Preach</p>Silverseltag:silverselband.com,2005:Post/56353312019-02-09T14:21:45-05:002020-08-28T16:14:41-04:00My Final Goodbye<p>We have been asked a good bit in the past 2 years about Icarus, the second single from the Battlegrounds Album, and what it’s really about. Some have said Mythology, others have said, Christianity. And there are still other people who have thought relationships. And the truth behind it all is….they are all correct. While I won’t give away all the secrets, I will divulge just a few points that will hopefully give the song some perspective. </p>
<p>When we write a song, it comes from a very deep place. Whether it’s being written from pain or joy, it all has meaning to us. Our hope is that the listener feels a piece of what we felt when we wrote the song. As well as connecting to that song on a personal level. The case of Icarus is no different. The song is based on our protagonist. Who, despite his best efforts to remain morally upstanding, loving, and supportive, has serious issues with the woman he is dating. These issues begin with the church she attends. “Gilded faces fill these spaces feeding the stained glass doors. Parade the flesh is all you insist. Convince them you don’t exist.” To our protagonist, this is how he sees the people he’s surrounded by on Sunday. They are there for show, and he relates that behavior to his girlfriend. This coupled with her lofty ideals of a relationship keep him in a state of flux. He never feels he’s good enough for her, and yet he’s madly in love with her. Hence the chorus:”Try, and yet I fail again. My last flight, my last fight.” All of these things keep him unhappy. And yet, he can’t seem to let her go. “my last lie, my final goodbye”. Until finally, it ends in “broken pieces, lying lifeless, scattered across the floor”. </p>
<p>We hope that will give you a little insight into one of our favorite songs. As a little side note….some insider information if you will. This song was actually recorded in 1 day. With some of our music, we will record rhythm tracks for a few days, and then come back the next day to track lead guitar, vocals, etc. However, this song was actually recorded in one day. In fact, this vocal track actually surprised our long time producer, and sound engineer, Shane Baldwin(who we need to stop and give mad props to. Dude does and amazing job). His remarks, when Wally steps into the vocal booth, usually go something like this. “ nope….do it again.” “I need more of that….not so much, pull it back some.” And some days it sounds like this…”I need your vocal coach’s number, I think I would rather yell at her.” However, when Wally recorded Icarus, it was a different story. He said something to the effect of, “now that’s more like it!” “Do that from now on.” While it’s all in good fun, Shane has always had a way of pulling the emotion out of each song, and bringing it to the forefront, above the music. Pushing us to play with the emotion we felt when we wrote the song. This in turn carries over into our live performances. After all, music is what feelings sound like.</p>Silverseltag:silverselband.com,2005:Post/56353302019-02-09T14:19:46-05:002022-04-18T04:28:31-04:00Stay A While My Rosalee<p>She died today </p>
<p>I fell from squinting eyes wrenched with pain </p>
<p>Through ocular lids squeezed together as if in a vice </p>
<p>I rolled down feverish cheeks in an attempt to make my escape </p>
<p>Only to fall to my own death, soaking into cotton fabric as if it were where i belonged all along </p>
<p>I am Wally’s tears. </p>
<p>She died today </p>
<p>I felt a sudden rush of adrenaline course through me as if hit by lightning </p>
<p>My outer shell began to harden and crack as I fought against this unseen force trying to over take me </p>
<p>The cracks began to grow, and in a matter of seconds, it did not matter anymore </p>
<p>No matter how hard I tried, I could not stay together </p>
<p>I broke. </p>
<p>I shattered into thousands of tiny pieces across the floor, as if I was thrown there in anger. </p>
<p>In desperation I reached for pieces of myself. Trying to somehow pull myself together. </p>
<p>But the damage is done. I am broken. </p>
<p>I am Wally’s Heart </p>
<p>She died today </p>
<p>I shook for what seemed like hours </p>
<p>My body sweats like a man on a Georgia chain gang </p>
<p>I wrung myself together with my mirrored twin till it hurt </p>
<p>I am Wally’s hands </p>
<p>She died today </p>
<p>It was as if I could not control myself </p>
<p>I saw my brother begin to move first </p>
<p>Then I followed closely behind </p>
<p>We began a chase for first place </p>
<p>He and I both taking turns leading </p>
<p>Through hills and holes </p>
<p>On asphalt, grass and dirt </p>
<p>Searching for a place to kill the pain </p>
<p>I am Wally’s feet </p>
<p>She died today </p>
<p>And there was nothing we could do…</p>Silverseltag:silverselband.com,2005:Post/56352882019-02-09T13:56:37-05:002022-05-16T01:44:44-04:00The Broken<p>Did you see the couple with the cute baby at the mall? They were wearing the right clothes, pushing the newest stroller, and driving a nice SUV. You may have even been a little jealous. What you didn’t see was the 70 plus hours a week the husband was putting in at the office. You never saw the high blood pressure and stress induced panic attacks he has in the middle of the night. You didn’t see the wife’s broken loneliness because she misses her husband. She misses the lives they used to have. You didn’t see the stress induced fights…..we are the broken. </p>
<p>Did you see the Deacon sitting next to you at church? He was wearing a brand new tailored suit. He sang with all his heart to the God he serves. He says a cheery hello every Sunday morning and every Wednesday night. What you don’t see is his problem with alcohol. How his excessive drinking contributed to his divorce. How his anger issues have caused him to not be able to hold down a steady job for 3 years…..we are the broken </p>
<p>Did you see the High school cheerleader. She’s the captain of the squad. The most popular girl in school. She has the newest clothes, throws the best parties, is dating the captain of the football team. She has a GPA of 3.5 and has a full ride to State when she graduates. What you didn’t see was her struggle with Bulimia. Every time she looks in the mirror, no matter what everyone else sees, she feels fat. You didn’t tiny scars she keeps hidden from the world. Cause a little bit of pain feels better than feeling nothing at all…we are the broken </p>
<p>Day in and day out we pass by people, and never give them a second thought. We may nod politely, or speak a quiet hello. But do we actually care? Do we truly care enough to see the pain, weakness, hopelessness, hate, anger, frustration they face every minute of every day? If we are truly honest with ourselves, the answer is no. Why? Have we become so self-absorbed into our 160 character lives that no one on the outside of our Facebook friends list matters? Or is it that we have just become complacent with the world around us? Whatever the answer, we have to make a change. We have to open our eyes to the world around us. We have to extend a hand to the alcoholic who fell off the wagon. We have to sit in silence with the cutting cheerleader to let her know she truly matters. We have to offer our support for the struggling family. In the end, the broken are not doomed to stay that way, if we help pick up the pieces. There is hope…</p>Silverseltag:silverselband.com,2005:Post/56352862019-02-09T13:49:41-05:002022-06-01T04:23:48-04:00The Gift Of Beard<p>…and the 4th wise man gave Jesus the gift of beard….OK, no, that line can not be found anywhere in the bible. Or in any other religion to my knowledge. However, the beard is a very spiritual thing. The following will be directed mainly at the “men folk”. </p>
<p>There is a very large difference between boys and men. Unfortunately, the society that we all live in today, fails to see a difference. Our society says, you are allowed to buy and drink alcohol at the age of 21. The “powers that be” decided that “men” are more mature at this age, and therefore more responsible when drinking. However, the same “powers that be” say you can go and die for your country at the ripe old age of 18. A very large contradiction to say the least. But it begs to ask the question…at what point does a boy become a man…? </p>
<p>In truth, the answer to that question, has more factors, avenues, side notes, and the like than i can cover in one blog post. So, in order to stay true to title form, i will simply say…when he grows a beard. </p>
<p>As much as the beard has become a revolving fashion left over from the late 70’s and early 80’s, it is severely underrated, and misunderstood. </p>
<p>The beard is a symbol of wisdom. Think about it. Every picture, you and I saw growing up, of an old wise man, mythological wizard, and even Obi Wan Kin-obi had a beard. The reason for this is simple. Time. It takes time to grow a beard. And in that time, you have the opportunity to learn a great deal about life. You grow in your wisdom by making mistakes, and learning from them . You learn that what you thought you knew at age 18, isn’t true at all at age 35. In the time it takes to grow a beard, you grow spiritually and emotionally. The point I’m making is, there is no real wisdom in the mind of boy. In the mind of a boy, tomorrow will always come. The sun will always rise tomorrow. Yet in the mind of a man, you know that tomorrow is not promised to us. You know, because of “life lived”, to let the ones you love know you love them. You learn to plan for the worst and expect the best. These are the beginnings of wisdom. </p>
<p>The beard is a symbol of patience. It takes great care and patience to grow an epic beard. If you decide today to grow a beard, do not expect to wake up in the morning and have a full beard. It takes patience. When you have the patience to grow a beard, you have the patience it takes to be a man. Lets take a quick look at relationships and marriages. They both take a lot of understanding, love, devotion, and patience. As men, we are brought up to fix things. We are taught by our fathers(father figures) to hammer a nail, bait a hook, change a tire, etc. We understand how to fix things. If it’s broke, we fix it. I am man. I make fire. I burn down house. I rebuild house. I am man. This is how we think on a very sub conscious level. The problem is we carry this mentality over into our relationships and marriages. At times, it’s a good thing. The washing machine breaks…I am man, I fix washing machine. Other times….not so much. Women see things very differently from men. The key is to have the wisdom, and patience to know the differences and find joy in them. There are going to be times when your wife or girlfriend may just sit on the bed and cry. You come in the room, and your first thought may be, “whose ass am i kicking for making you cry?!”The problem with that line of thinking is, she may have absolutely no idea why she is sad. While your mentality to protect your partner is not wrong, if you had taken the time to learn patience(that comes with growing a beard) you would know to communicate with her, not talk at her. And she would not be throwing a pillow at you, telling you to kick your own ass. </p>
<p>Growing a beard takes time. Just as becoming a man takes time. And in truth it has nothing to with age. I know several people in their mid forties who are still boys in mind and spirit. And likewise, I know people in their 20’s who are true bearded God fearing men. I will close by saying this. We as men are given the gift of beard. What we do with it, defines who we are. Who our sons will become. And who our daughters will look for in a husband. Whether you wear your beard on the outside or in your heart….be a bearded man.</p>Silversel