As they say, the only constant in life is change.
And for the artist and musician, change is something we’re experiencing more every single day.
The big issue for most musicians, artists and creatives is the fear of how to handle the transitions that show up on our doorstep. Sometimes we feel the need to shift jobs, change creative approaches, or start new relationships. Other times, that choice is made for us.
In either case, how we respond to transition makes all the difference in whether we will be successful.
There’s an important distinction we need to make when it comes to our gig lifestyles. Embracing transitions that move us into more entrepreneurial roles does NOT mean we have to stop performing, writing, or creating in projects that we find meaningful and exciting. We simply expand our horizons.
In this episode, we unpack the art of transition and making changes that will help lead us to a greater understanding of all the possibilities available to us as faith-focused creatives.
However, we also pause to reflect on the tremendous groundswell of emotion over the senseless loss of Black lives due to unchecked aggressive policing and racism in our culture. This issue hits home for the entertainers and artists in our community in particular, and we’ve shared some trusted resources in the links below to help us cope, rally, support and bring lasting change to our society, so no more innocent lives will be lost and that so that Christian virtues of peace, justice, and brotherhood are not just talk, but actions.
Resources for Social Change and Understanding
Here are some materials recommended by our friend and podcast guest Kelli Brownlee to educate yourself or your friends on race and the Christian response to justice in America.
BOOKS
The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby
White Fragility by Robin D’Angelo
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
Be the Bridge by LaTasha Morrison
Woke Church by Eric Mason
MEDIA
13th by Ava Duvernay - Netflix
When They See Us by Ava Duvernay - Netflix
Selma by Ava Duvernay
American Son - Netflix
12 Years A Slave
Harriet (although this is NOT 100% true to factual history)
Just Mercy
ORGANIZATIONS
https://www.circleofbrotherhoodmiami.org/ - Helping to work directly with police officers in South Florida
https://colorofchange.org/ - Social Justice group working for criminal justice reform and income equality
https://www.themarshallproject.org/records/1303-police-training - updated articles on police reform
OTHER LINKS