Sharing Gifts in Service: Wilcox Weekend
Today, I emerge from improvising on stage last Saturday night in the middle of (singer-songwriter) David Wilcox's concert! Even more, it arises from the fact I almost said 'No' to this opportunity because of the Fear that I don't have what it takes...
Last week you heard how my dream was coming true as I packed my bags to be a Presenter at David Wilcox's Retreat. You can read the back story here.
After my 2-hour presentation on the first day, I was prepared to kick-back and relax when David asked me to be on a 'How to Stay Inspired' Panel with him and two other singer-songwriters on the 2nd day. You'll be hearing more about that inspiring experience in next week's Spark.
After staying up late the 3rd night at a Song-writers Circle, I was feeling a bit less than Spark-ly the next morning at breakfast when David's wife approached me to ask if I would come on stage to 'do my thing' that final night during David's Concert.
I knew I was supposed to say YES, but my Mojo was a NoGo at that moment. I didn't feel connected with my brave heart; rather I felt more like a foggy-brained slug. Fortunately, I knew myself well enough to not say No. Rather, I asked if I could get back to her later in the day.
My mission for the day then became finding my way to a real Yes. I had to wade through some major anxiety, discomfort and fear on the way. Voices that said: 'If you're not in a well-rested, ideal state of mind, there is no way you can get up on stage. I mean, David will have to stop singing in order for you to 'do your thing.' How could you possibly offer something good enough that the audience would deem it worthy of taking a break from David's singing? Not to mention, what in the world does 'doing your thing' in the middle of David's concert actually mean?"
I knew that my Yes would only come when I felt grounded and reconnected with my Essence, so I headed out on a solo-hike up to a mountaintop cliff overlook--where I knew I would feel at home. Yes, as I stood up on Eagles Rock looking out into the huge sky and wide horizon of rolling Blue Ridge Mountains, I felt fully Alive again, and connected with the possibility and potential of this opportunity.
On the way back down, as I landed one foot in front of the other, I felt that stepping on stage tonight was simply my next step on this natural path of being bravely myself. And even more importantly, this was an opportunity to let my gifts be offered in service to this amazing community. And who am I to stand in the way of that?
By the time I arrived back at the Retreat Center I could walk right up to David and say 'YES, I'd love to come on stage and do my thing tonight during your concert.' And folks, that is literally all that was said. There was no further planning or discussion of what my thing would be. Instead, we chose to Trust.
Here is the raw footage my friend captured (roughly edited down a bit to respect your attention span). In the midst of one of his songs, David sang me onto the stage. I stepped up with the intention of honoring David and this heart-centered community that has been drawn together by his music. I knew I wanted to create a collaborative, audience-participation improvised poem. But I wasn't sure how it would happen or what I would say. I had never done this before--It was an Experiment in the unknown. This is what happened...
David Wilcox & Jessica Chilton poetically improvise during David's Concert at Wilcox Weekend 2016! A completely unplanned experiment in the unknown, we invited in Trust.
Next time you are presented with an expansive opportunity that evokes Fear and a possible 'No', remember to give yourself some space to breathe into it. Make it your mission to find your way to your true inner Yes. Ground yourself. Reconnect with your center--do something that enlivens you. Think of the opportunity as an experiment--and practice Trusting in the unknown. Remind yourself that this is a chance to offer your gifts in service to another. Who are you to stand in the way?!
