In typical hyper-focus mode, I have only been reporting on the upcoming tour, when in fact, so many great things have been going on.
This past weekend I got to play an outdoor show in Augusta, Georgia (where I was born) benefitting a new Miracle League baseball field that will be part of the YMCA there.
We were also trying to break the Guinness World Book record for largest picnic.
I don’t know if we accomplish it, but we all had a great time trying.
Check out the Miracle League Field in Augusta.
You’ll me glad you did.
Later that evening, a couple thousand people …including that Nashville symphony and the 150 voice Nashville Choir …. Joined together to celebrate 25 years of the music of Michael W. Smith.
The eveving was like old home week…all dressed up.
Songwriters and musicians and singers who have loved Michael and worked with him over the last two plus decades sang his songs back to him.
It was truely magical.
What a treasure…friendship.

Ok
A friend who grew up on my old music asked me if I still had the 501′s and faded sleeveless dark t shirt from the Lead Me On video…
Twenty lbs ago…maybe.
The passage of time is a beautiful thing.
Takes the pressure off the exterior and makes you focus ok what’s inside.
I did find my long-ish black coat.
Took it to have the ripped lining in the sleeve mended…
Still have the black cowboy boots that Rich Frankel, my friend from the A&M record days, had made for me.
At least my feet are still the same size.
Ha!
All of this nonsense to say…
It’s all about the music.
Can’t wait.

Usually I don’t even drag my suitcase out of the closet until the clock is ticking off the last 24 hours, but I’m so full of anticipation for this 20 city run that I’m starting today…three days out.
I wonder if I can still button one of the copies of that leopard print Unguarded jacket…might be fun to wear for an old song.
The fact is, I ‘be never thought too much about wardrobe.
Why start now?
It’s all about the music…always has been.
Tennessee is beautiful this time of year.
I’ll miss watching the leaves change.

Through all of our phases and stages
Growth spurts and stagnation…
God is faithful. There are no mistakes in His book.
He uses everything for His ultimate good. …sickness…divorce …failure…time.
He is good.
I’m glad we belong to Him.

Tonight we had our first audience.
Friends and family filled the folding chairs of the rehearsal hall and stoodarpund the back wall.
Several songs in to the set we thought to turn off the overhead florescent lights, which were a real mood buster.
All through the first half dozen songs I kept wondering if my instincts were right, or if I was completely in left field with this tour idea.
By the end of the show I could see the answer written on everyone’s faces.
These old songs, these old reminders of earlier passion, these honest proclamations in the form of songs were like a long cool drink of water.
Everyone was energized and impassioned and happy.
I cannot wait to share this evening with any and everyone who needs a lift.
….even danced a little bit tonight
Thanks for the encouragement to be free.

Had our first rehearsal with stage and lights today….
It’s fun to have an actual “set”, but I got a little nervous today wondering what to do with my arms and legs when I wasn’t holding my guitar.
Dance?
If I were in the crowd I would want to move…I feel sort of silly jumping around these days. ..
Anyway, it’s way too late to be awake, but I’m trying to shift my body clock a little later.
I’ll figure out the movement thing another day.
Friends are coming to rehearsal tomorrow.
A few came today.
All eight clapped, which was nice.
With the economy the way it is, that might be a record crowd.
Mmmmmmm
Even if. It has still been worth it.
Sweet dreams keyboard.
Sweet dreams night reader.

We’re in the last week of rehearsals now.
All of the glitches are getting smoothed out.
Can I just say that life is crazy….and there are too many things to do…and I am so glad that in the midst of the chaos, all of my old friends decided to do this reunion tour.
This week is dedicated to running the set list straight through….over and over and over.
Never did find that old flat brimmed black hat.
Oh well.

5 to go…
Then to work on the list that I do by myself…
M W S came by rehearsals today.
Great to see him.
He’s doing dates with Steven Curtis Chapman this fall.
Asked him to try to make one of the shows for old times sake.
We’ll see.
Just to clarify…
We are choosing to do songs from 1988 or earlier…
And brand new, unrecorded material …
The thought being that we look back in order to look ahead.
Sweet. Dreams.

I ended up working on a song instead.
one of those sentimental ones that lead to a good cry.
Love that kind.
No luck on the hat cause I didn’t even look for it.

Thirteen songs rehearsed this week.
Wow.
That was a good start on the set list.
My voice sounds shot….
But it’s not really.
That’s the only way to build up that shout singing kind of stamina. ..to push it to the brink of losing it and then rest. And then push it to that point again and rest. And then again.
October 16th is just far enough away to get it done.

My job today is to crawl around the attic looking for that old black hat…