To Inspire
November 17th, 2007
I have been feeding off of the thoughts and works of others more so in these past few months than ever before. Everything has changed since I’ve begun my masters work at Mars Hill Graduate School, and I can’t go back. Once one’s eyes and ears have been opened to new ideas and the human condition, it is permanent. It’s one of the scariest things about this school.
Inspiration is everywhere. I’ve been reading fascinating books, interpreting new and old pieces of art, and learning to read texts, specifically the Scriptures, in the same way that I read people. I’ve been discovering photographers that push me into different realms of how to see things and unique ways to create imagery that tells a story.
I’ve recently begun the process of working with a new project based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan called Heart Support. I think their logo looks wonderful on t-shirts and hoodies. I’ve also been working on photography for my school’s new marketing campaign. As I’ve been working on these I have realized how much I am inspired by the work of others. I see it all over what I do.
Blaine pointed out to me the other day that he thinks it is interesting that I’ve become a photographer. He believes that I do it to capture faith, or maybe more clearly, that I capture a glimpse of the past that leads to hope for the future. I had never thought of it that way, but the more I think about it the more that I believe it. I’ve been looking through a few of my old photos with new eyes.
On page 12 of Letters to a Young Poet, Rilke writes:
“Go inside yourself. Discover the motive that bids you to write; examine whether it sends its roots down to the deepest places of your heart, confess to yourself whether you would have to die if writing were denied you. This before all: ask yourself in the quietest hour of your night: must I write? Dig down into yourself for a deep answer.”
These delicate words go so far beyond the art and task of writing. We all are inspired to do, and sometimes be, something. Usually it is not one’s vocation, as a vocation can kill a love. Sometimes it is, but I’ve found those instances to be rare.
There are so many things that have inspired me recently that I’d like to mention, because we all need inspiration.
Talkies: Reign Over Me, Into the Wild, Dan In Real Life, The Darjeeling Limited (It’s as if Wes Anderson attended Mars Hill and then proceeded to immediately write a script.)
Music: Claude Debussy and Antonio Vivaldi (One of the best ways I’m learning to interpret is through classical music), Aqualung, and Eva Cassidy
Photographers: Day 19, Elizabeth Weinberg, Noah Kalina, This Darling Life, Yangtan, Trever Hoehne, and all things Flickr (I have it open in my browser constantly.)
Books: There are too many to list (plus I feel it would be cliché to list my books for class, even though I love most of them). I will say that Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet, quoted above, is always in my bag wherever I go.
The World Wide Web (that’s the one with the email): Tom & Alissa, ISO50, So Serious
I would love to know what is inspiring you. I try not to ever ask for much feedback in the realm of comments because I do not want to (always want to) find my identity and value in what others think of what I do and write. But, that being said, there is a time and a place for collaboration and co-creating.
So please gift us with that which has been gifted to you. I would love to hear about it, and I think we all would love it as well.
you…inspire with words of inspiration about inspiration. if that makes any sense.
honestly, i think you’re writing as of recent has really progressed. i love hearing your thoughts and it’s been awesome hearing of your journey to mars.
glad to hear you’re getting involved in heart support!
Check out the symphony Hodie by Ralph Vaughn Williams…particularly mvmt. XVI: Epilogue; In the Beginning Was The Word.
It’s about the creation of the world but it is so ethereal…he speaks with words we do not use anymore. There are days when we forget the granduer of this earth and the God who created it…Vaughn Williams captures it with sound and words the best I have heard anyone thus far!
recently, trever has also been giving me inspiration. i don’t know it you know him, but he is always pushing himself to create. i love that about him. other photographers would be jeremy cowart and jim erickson. musically, dustin kensrue’s album “please come home” has been doing it for me lately. i don’t know if you’ve heard it but its pretty damn good. there’s a lot of truth in it.
one of my professors told us a quote from someone (who i cannot remember) at the beginning of the school year… “recycle and reuse the wheel, but don’t reinvent it unless you absolutely have to” [very loosely quoted]. i think that quote speaks to co-creating so well.
i’ve been listening to a lot of raine maida lately… his music and his mission have been inspiring me.
in addition, not to suck up, but your work as well is some of my favorite.
bansky (google it) also.
inspirations you ask?..hmm..
-John Eldredge’s book WAKING THE DEAD…has been one of those books for me where I’m nodding my head, saying “uh-huh, yup, know what your saying” through-out it.
-A.W. Tozer’s THE PURSUIT OF GOD was handed to me for free at a recent conference I atteneded. I’m a underline, notes in the margin’s kind of reader when it comes to “thinking” books (for lack of a better category) and I told myself, I was just going to read and soak up what I could…and it was going to be a re-read book. I didn’t make it through the first page without pulling out my pen.
-Reign Over Me is also on my list inspirational films.
and btw, I’m an official member of the Junky Car Club…thanks.
as far as music is concerned, Lovedrug and KT Tunstall have been some good listening. And as for books…well, my new favorite book is The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. It’s wonderful.
oh yeah. Dan in Real Life is the best movie I’ve seen in a while.
[...] A change of pace. Inspiration November 18, 2007, 12:22 am Filed under: Uncategorized *This blog is partially in response to Joshua Longbrake’s blog, To Inspire. [...]
What? I posted a blog in response to yours, and it automatically posted a comment about it? Weird…
Check out Anna Akhmatova, Wislawa Szymborska and Mary Oliver. They’re some gutsy poets. If you can, read Rilke in German. It’s much better. Even if you don’t understand it, just listen to the words in counterpoint.
Then there’s the music…
Alban Berg/ Lulu
Debussy/ String Quartet
Chopin/ Preludes
Benjamin Britten/ Our Hunting Fathers
Benjamin Britten/ Rejoice in the Lamb
Lieberson/ Neruda Songs (sung by Lorraine Hunt)
You might have an interest in picking up Musicology and Difference by Ruth Solie. I think you’d enjoy reading it. It’s also a book I carry around with me everywhere.
Usually listening to Over the Rhine is really inspiring for me. It’s just the music I listen to most. Also, photography is a MUST if I seek inspiration, as well as all the paintings I love to dive into.
And Kierkegaard. He is inspiring to me because reading his words simply leaves me uncomfortable with the way things are all the time and I just HAVE to find ways to change. If that makes sense.
Another book I’ve found really inspiring is The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris.
I could go on and on and on, because really, all I do all day long usually finds a way into what I write later on, even if it was just a blink of time that seems to stay eternally present in my mind. taking walks. laughter of friends. Love (with a capital L).
God. the true source of inspiration. :)
Thank you for writing this. So I guess I’ll have to read Rilke now. in German.
OK, so this will sound mushy and all, but it’s you. You have inspired alot fo what I do. And so i guess it trickles down or ripples out (depending on your water flow) from each of us to the other. I know people have come to me saying that I have inspired them, knowing that it was you that inspired me to write/shoot/play. And in turn you stated that it was others who inspired you. It’s like the song that never ends.(Except it ripples….or trickles)
Anyway, along with your inspiration come the narrative of my life that plays continuously throughout each day. As though I’m writing my life and the life of others out in my head. Jazz/Blues music inspires me
Books inspire me.
God inspires me.
Friends inspire me.
My environment inspires me.
I love how you combine words and pictures in your creativity. The same with thunderedcat.blogspot.com. Both are just made so much more poignant by the combination.
Also… The Writing Life by Annie Dillard, The Color of Light by Marilyn Chandler McEntyre (poems on Van Gogh’s paintings), Michelle Tumes’ self-titled album, the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay… etc. Those are some more recent ones.
Although I have come across so many authors/novels/brilliant words in the past few months (because, like you, estoy in grad school), I have found that PEOPLE have inspired me the most lately . . . people that I meet on the bus, people that I hear in a cafe, people from other countries that I meet at church, people. Period.
i saw into the wild tonight and my drive home was full of thoughts i needed to have which lead to such a satisfying conversation with God. i am sure sean penn (and all “artful” people involved) would be satisfied as well and that got me thinking about how much artists have so little control over how their work affects people. truly never thought of it that way, but there is a huge lack of control (God) factor. i need to love that more so it will cause me to want to create with abandon.
so i too have been inspired by into the wild. two other things this week worth mentioning; the ‘big change;songs for FINCA’ album. it has a great diverse group of people on it and i love who it benefits! i also have been changed by a book called ‘global gods’by dr. david shenk. it makes me want to get a peace studies degree.
THANKS for the blog…’happiness is best when it is shared’
I’ve both read and watched the film version of Into the Wild, and they are stunning. Rarely does a movie do a book justice, but in this case, the movie beautifully enhances Krakauer’s book. I saw it two weeks ago, and am still journaling about it. Sooooo moving!
Reign Over Me was excellent as well. Maybe a little slow “movie-wise” but much to think about.
I’ve also read, and re-read, an old favorite book by Henri Nouwen called “In the Name of Jesus” in the past week or so. That is a very grounding book for me, and always points me back to intimacy with Christ.
Beyond that, I live close to a State Park that I am trying to explore - watching the seasons change as I walk the trails has been good for my soul.
Peace.
I love Kurt Halsey’s stuff. I just bought a few of his prints (on stretched canvas, urban outfitters) and they colors are even more brilliant than on screen, but the real joy for me is in the lines. They have such wonderful variations in them. (www.kurthalsey.com)
I also like to browse the artwork on etsy.com, there are some really great finds there.
I’ve been reading “When I don’t Desire God: The Fight for Joy” by John Piper and I’ve found that to be pretty inspiring. Or rather, I find the joy that God wants us to have in Him inspiring. Mr. Piper just explains it better than a lot of people.
And music-wise I’m finding Great & Glorious from His Fame Ministries (http://www.hisfameministries.org/) to be pretty inspiring lately.
I also liked Reign over me, I was expecting another American film and it wasn´t. Have you read something from Amos Oz? It is worthy, i will recomend you “A panther in the basement” or ” Don´t call it night”…Music…”The electrical morning” from Marlango…Films…I love Isabel Coixet work with “My life without me” or ” The secret life of the words”, I am not sure they were distributed in America but they don´t let you without an opinion….But the more inspiring thing i have seen in the last weeks is the old people with ALzheimer´s disease i am working with…What a lives…It is a good exercise to think how you would your life if you knew you are going to loose yourself…what would you do without memories?…what is important now and what not…it has made me think a lot about them, about me and about God…
Thanks for keeping writing, i am missing to write with light but…i hope you are learning a lot at Seattle…Take care.
:)
I’m glad you finally picked up rilke. I have the same quotes you have posted here underlined in my book but it’s funny because I have a different translation…so the words are a little off (to me). Either way, best letters ever.
Poeple like you inspire me. I’ve been a fan since last year.
Joshua,
Someone else’s inspiration from you led me to visit your blog almost everyday. Your writings inspire and motivate. I also am a big fan of your photography. All the cool writers are from Seattle…I like Seattle, I want to live there someday, and I have been there twice. I like the way your blog presents the true life of traveler. I am inspired by nature, people, people’s words, and God. Your blog has sparked a few lines in some of my poems too. Your work is good, keep it coming.
letters to a young poet is one of my all time favorites. my dad gave it to me when i was in high school. i am also a big fan of reign over me…other movies which have recently provoked my thoughts are: lions for lambs, lars & the real girl, the martian child, & across the universe. all four movies are worth every penny. as far as books i am still stuck on anne lamott right now and thoroughly enjoying it. as far as music, lately: over the rhine (the trumpet child), rosie thomas, william, sufjan, & gregory and the hawk.
good weather inspires me. as do thought provoking conversations…
Children inspire me.
Children are carefree, spontaneous, exciting, dreamers, and imaginears.
They ask questions with no hesitation that I get shy about asking at age 24.
Children inspire me, showing me that we can still have fun, follow God, and have our amazing dreams come true.
anne lamott: bird by bird and operating instructions
thomas merton: conjectures of a guilty bystander (awakened the pacifist in me)
scott harrison, photographer and philanthropist, http://www.charityis.org
stace chomlack, photographer, http://www.anastasiachomlack.ca
“the kite runner” was big for me.
music-wise, cold war kids.
yay, a mention!
i am working through “letters to a young poet” right now, and loving it.
“the cloister walk”, by kathleen norris, has moved me a lot lately.
and when i am truly stuck, i listen to iron & wine.
Ken Pike, who wrote and did many things. Including:
With bow on string,
String sings,
But cries
With fear
Of failure.
Keep me singing,
Lord. Play on!
From the book, _On Pain Beyond Suffering_, entitled “The Cry is There”
Ken is no longer w/ us, but left behind some good memories of a spry, ornery, loving old man who did quite a bit in his lifetime, yet remained fairly humble, despite that. ;-)
Church when it is marked by truth, hope, and beauty.
The practice of searching for signs of life where life is said not to exist.
Also other current inspirations….
Music:
Jimmy Eat World - Chase This LIght
Sigur Ros - Hvarf Heim
Iron and Wine - The Shepherd’s Dog
Phil Wickham - Cannons
Photography: Jan Von Holleben
Books:
Stripped - Jud Wilhite
Anne Lamott - Bird by Bird
Made To Stick - Chip and Dan Heath
[...] response to Joshua Longbrake’s blog, To Inspire and Kendra Kreider’s blog, Inspiration; I’d like to list a few things that have been [...]
Inspiration for me usually comes after the sunset. It is when reality(or my idea of it) hits that I truly appreciate those moments and gain inspiration from them. I also enjoy music with no words, especially the band(which is no longer, but still has amazing music) Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Check them out. I also enjoy books by David Foster Wallace.
wow, thanks!
textures. (as well as well-textured people.) they make life thicker. richer. smellier. wiser. laughier. meatier. rougher. -er. -er. -er.
That Rainer Maria Rilke book is one of the only books I’ve (accidentally) memorized excerpts from that is not an ancient canonized text. You’re a good boy to keep it in your back pocket.
[current inspiration]
. November’s sun with the Santa Ana’s blowing
. listening to friends remember aloud the dark places they’ve been, and where they are now
. Boy with a Coin ..Iron & Wine
. Your Hand In Mine ..Explosions In the Sky
. Nature And The Wreck ..Mates Of State
. Postcards from Italy ..Beirut
oh and
.the film War/Dance
Did anything from your school’s new marketing campaign happen to appear, say, in the back inside cover of the new Relevant?
hmmmm. today, the inspiration comes from:
photographers: Jeremy Cowart, Chase Jarvis, Trevor Hoehne, all things Flickr (totally agree with you). It’s almost always open on my computer.
Books: I’m learning to desire time to read. When I pick up a good book, I soak it in and really enjoy it, but the time it requires of me (with a 1yr old at home and a wife and a busy job) is daunting given all my other hobbies. Being in advertising, I think the most inspiring book is “Love Marks” by Kevin Roberts. Then Freakonomics was great. Those are probably the two recent ones.
Music: hmmmm. so much out there. Currently blown away by Joshua James’ voice and Sanders Bohlke.
watch : born into brothels
listen : yo-yo ma (prelude to bach’s first suite), beirut
look : phil hansen
read : annie dillard, stephen dunn