I didn’t have a chance of not becoming a musician. My grandfather is a musician.
My father is a musician. My uncles are musicians. Some families bond while watching
TV - my family bonds by playing music. My mom and dad divorced when I was 1 year
old. I grew up with my mother, while my father was busy playing music professionally
and using drugs.
I learned to play the saxophone in the 6th grade - I loved playing sax, I loved learning
music. Around 13, however, the sax was not enough, something was missing. I wanted
to learn to play the guitar, I had to learn how to play guitar. Everyone in my family
plays guitar and I didn’t want to be left out. But then my uncle gave me a “First
Act” drum set. I taught myself to play drums by listening to other drummers from
the bands I loved. Soon I realized I was born to be a drummer. I practiced day and
night and by 14 I was a saxophone player, a guitar player, a drummer, and an atheist.
That was when my father got sober and I was able to move from my mother’s house to
my father’s house - he was married again. He lived in a small trailer but I had a
5 X 6 room where I set up my drums. I had enough room for my drums and my bed - the
two most important things in my life at that time. I drove my parents crazy with
my constant drumming.
Eventually my younger sister outgrew her desire to bunk with my two younger brothers
and, as a maturing young lady, she needed her own room. I was evicted from my 5 X
6 room and moved in with my younger brothers. I had to store my drums in my parents
closet but every chance I got when they were gone, I would put them together so I
could practice.
After a while, we moved to a bigger place and I once again had a room of my own.
A much bigger room - I had my drums, my bed, a TV, and my fish. Slowly, churches
around the metroplex began asking me to sit in and play my drums - even though I
was still an atheist. But I was an atheist that wanted to play drums and Christian
music was my only option.
Several months later, Jason asked me if I would sit in with No Regrets. I agreed
but as far as I was concerned, this was just another opportunity to play my drums
with another band. But this time felt very different. It is hard to describe what
I felt that night but it was enough to convince me that God is very real!
For about the next year, I was blessed to sit in with No Regrets every other weekend
or so. I became involved with the youth group at Serenity and we went on several
mission trips that deeply touched my life. I learned more about walking with God
and Jesus - I was growing up and getting to see first hand the depth of God’s love
for us. My dad freely shared recovery and God with me and I was learning so much
from him. I was enjoying the perks of being a Christian, no longer atheist, as miracles
happened to me and my family daily.
And one day it happened! I was riding the bus home from school and my phone rang.
It was my dad. No Regrets needed a new full-time drummer and wanted to know if I
wanted the spot. Did I want to play with No Regrets? Did that really require an answer?
OF COURSE I WANTED TO PLAY DRUMS WITH THEM!!!!!!!
When I was 13 I never realized that a God I didn’t even believe in was preparing
me to play music for Him. In spite of my disbelief, God still reached inside me and
gave me the gift of music. And through music, He revealed Himself to me. Through
music He filled me with His love and changed my life. I used to play music for myself
- I wanted to be recognized and praised for my talents. Today, I want people hear
my drums and feel the heartbeat of God - I want to lead people into His presence
with my music. God loves me so much and He found me in the music. Now I love God
so much, I want others to find Him through the music.
