When a Guitarist Gets Sick

July 05, 2023

Today, we’re going to talk briefly about what the implications are when a guitarist gets sick.

 

Now, when you saw the title of today’s episode, perhaps you thought the word “sick” was slang for “awesome,” or “ridiculously skilled,” like a guitarist who can play blisteringly fast licks on his or her instrument.

 

But if you listen to my voice on the podcast version of this, you’ll be able to tell instantly that I’ve got quite a bit of congestion, because I actually am sick.  I woke up with what I might call my “talk radio” voice.  And a whole lot of coughing.

Thanks to the magic of audio editing on the podcast version, I’ll be able to notch out any coughing fits or the need to blow my nose or sneeze, but if you’re listening, you will still need to endure this altered sound of my voice for just a few minutes today.

 

Here's why.

 

I rarely miss the opportunity to learn something, and today is no exception.  I invite you to learn with me.  Here are a few talking points I’ll offer you.  First…

 

Illness is a part of life.

 

Illness, though annoying, is a reality on our journeys.  Even if we’re super healthy overall, we will occasionally encounter illness. 

 

And how we respond to that illness can be a mindset thing that helps us recover more quickly, but also embrace the need to take time to recharge.

 

When I’m sick, I’m reminded that this world is not my home, and that my strength does not come from me. 

 

I’m also reminded that prayer is important, and if I take each bout of coughing as an opportunity for a brief prayer to the Lord to sustain and restore me, I take my eyes off myself and I focus on the Great Physician and what He might be teaching me.

 

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: we are always learning…or at least we always can be.  Second…

 

We can power through…until we can’t.

 

Sometimes, the illness is slight, and we can pace ourselves with fluids, vitamin C, and gear down just a bit as we continue with our work, our practice, and our lives. 

But some illnesses really knock us over at times.

 

I’ve met guys who are super “masculine” who say “I’m going to ‘embrace the suck’ and just power through this illness.  It’s not going to affect me.”  Or “I refuse this, so it’s just going to go away.”

 

Meanwhile, they’re physically miserable.  It might actually be better if they took a day or more to heal.

 

I don’t necessarily think “powering through” an illness is the best course of action, but if the illness is slight, taking things just a bit slower and being aware of our bodies and minds can help. 

 

As I string these words together, my mind is pretty clear, but not as clear as it is when I’m healthy, so if there’s less logic in my thoughts, that may be partially due to my illness.  So, I ask for your grace, if that’s the case.  Hey, that rhymes. 

 

Now, if someone has a severe or chronic health situation, sometimes things need to be put on hold on some level.  It’s ok to do that.  We need to be able to give ourselves permission to hit the “pause” on some areas of our lives.  Next…

 

Illness is an opportunity to learn things.

 

Some of us, including me, sometimes tend to think that we have unlimited energy or strength, but this isn’t reality.  This misperception can get checked real quick if a bout of illness comes along.

 

Living like I’m in charge takes me places where the Lord is not the focus, and then I forget that each breath, each heartbeat, is a gift from Him.

Colossians 1:17 reminds us that “[Christ] is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” He is literally holding me together.  I’m not doing this – He is.

 

So perhaps a bout of illness can be an opportunity to be reminded that my strength, my life, my breath…these are not my own

. 

And it’s humbling, for sure, but it also lends perspective.  Humility never hurt anyone, and neither did perspective.  Next…

 

It takes two to tango.

 

Since this is a guitar blog, let’s talk for a moment about the guitar, and how we learn.

 

The guitar learning experience requires two basic parties: a teacher and a student.  If one of the parties gets sick, well, the lesson needs to be rescheduled. 

 

It just makes very little sense to try to keep a lesson while one party is fighting something…and if that lesson is in person, there’s the risk of “sharing” what one of them has with the other.

 

For years, I taught one-on-one guitar lessons, with a roster of 50 students and a waiting list.  I enjoyed it, especially when students applied themselves.

 

I also had a cancellation policy, because inevitably, some students missed a lesson due to illness.  And once in a while, my health (or lack thereof) precluded me from teaching well.  So, I’d cancel a day of lessons, and would reschedule those students’ times with me at their nearest convenience, usually the following week.

 

It can be inconvenient to cancel a lesson due to illness, but here’s the thing…this can actually be prevented, even in the case of illness.  Go here with me.

 

You may know that I’ve created an online guitar learning experience unlike any other.  We have premium lesson content that I’ve recorded in video, audio, and transcript format, with full-color worksheets. 

And my members get access to these materials 24/7.  So, if I’m ill, I don’t have to worry about trying to be strong enough to teach a lesson.  I can rely on the lesson content that I’ve carefully crafted, that’s waiting for my members in the portal. 

 

And of course, that lesson content was captured when I was feeling well, and thinking clearly.

 

Conversely, if a member is ill, they don’t have to go through the lesson content at that time.  They can wait, and recover, and then revisit the lesson at their own pace, at a time when they’re feeling better.  They can even “batch watch” some of the lessons, or speed them up if they want to.

 

Problem solved.  The tango can continue, even despite illness.

 

Now, some students prefer a one-on-one teacher, and I fully support that, but if you think about the logistics around driving to a person’s teaching studio, or agreeing on a mutual time to connect either in person or over Zoom, there can be added factors to overcome.

 

By contrast, the learning environment I’ve put together is a game-changer.

 

The lesson content has been created based on almost three decades of touring, performing, leading worship, and recording in the studio, so it’s highly relevant, and can be enjoyed over and over. 

 

Plus, we have guest experts who speak on a variety of guitar-related topics as well…which you wouldn’t find in a one-on-one lesson environment.

 

I’ll leave it with you to take a closer look at what we’ve got, but rest assured, if you’re a beginning or intermediate Christian guitarist and you’re looking for something to help you get out of a rut, you may have just found it. 

 

You can check it out at www.GuitarSuccess4U.com.  Next…

 

Perseverance and patience are worthy things.

 

Struggles and trials, especially like illness, can lead to opportunities for perseverance and patience. 

 

James 1:4 reminds us that “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” 

 

And patience is one of the fruits of the spirit in Galatians chapter 5. 

The Lord can use illness to produce these virtues in us…if we allow Him to do so.  Lastly…

 

We are being renewed by the Lord.

 

I’ll leave you with one more passage of scripture.

 

2 Corinthians 4:16 says: “Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

 

We are all getting older.  We are all getting weaker.  But these are only the physical sides of things. 

 

Illness is a physical thing.  Sure, it can impact us emotionally, but when we are spiritually nourished by the hope that we have in Christ, we remember that we are not bound for this world.

 

We can make music (especially when we’re feeling well), but we can also rest and recover. 

 

We can also experience lifelong rest in the sufficiency of God’s plan to bring us home after we’ve learned what He wants us to learn here.

So, keep learning, keep growing, take things at your pace, and remember that when illness comes – the learning and growing doesn’t stop; it’s just a little different.

 

Well, I hope today was uplifting and encouraging for you on some level.  Thanks so much for being willing to listen to my “talk radio voice” as I’ve shared these thoughts with you.

 

My coughing has brought me what I like to call a “rockin’ headache,” so I’m going to go lay low, force fluids, and do all the things, so I can get back to life. 

 

But even as I do this, I’m going to prayerfully invite the Lord to continue teaching me that He is my strength.  I’ll see you next time…hopefully, when I’m feeling much better.