Rush Is Back! A Tale of Inspiration

Okay I know I usually talk about creative arts ministry, but today I would like to talk about the band that changed something for me, a little three-piece from Toronto known as Rush. Now I know they are not a Christian band, but that’s not what hit the younger version of me. 

Sixteen

I was a sixteen year old high school junior, it was May (May 13, 1980 to be specific) and I was on my way to see my first ever rock concert, Rush at the Hersheypark Arena in Hershey, PA. I knew only one Rush song, Spirit of Radio. I liked the song, but I was there mainly because of something unusual that happened. Someone invited me. That didn’t happen that often, I wasn’t exactly popular. 

Pick Something Else

You see, from as early as I could remember I wanted to do two things, make art and tell stories. When I told that to my parents as a child, they sort of patted me on the head, told me, “That’s nice,” and sent me back to play with my crayons. Now as my senior year approached, the patting stopped. “That’s nice,” became, “No son of ours is going to starve in an attic.” Pick something else. After spending my whole life with a plan, all of the sudden, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I had dreamed what was now proclaimed “the impossible dream,” and their fear was becoming my depression. 

Something Changed

That night was different. All of the sudden, there I was in a nosebleed seat watching three young guys from Canada doing what everyone told me was impossible. Making art (music) that told incredible stories. That opened my mind to new possibilities. Maybe my dream was not so impossible. I’ll never forget seeing the lights go down and the crowd beginning to roar. All of the sudden there was a spacey sound, louder than anything I had ever heard, as a digitally animated space ship began to sail across the back of the stage. All of the sudden the first two chords of Rush’s epic 2112 rang out, the crowd went even louder and the flash of pyrotechnics made it feel like the world exploded and in that moment, I was a fan for life. 

Water Under the Bridge

I wish I could say I forged a path to a life of making pictures and telling stories, but that didn’t happen right away. A month later I moved 400 miles away from home to pursue a career as an electronic engineer. It didn’t work, I had no aptitude or skills, but I did meet a brilliant musician named Shawn, and learned a little more about the creative life. For a while, I thought maybe I wanted to be a musician, but my lack of skills and talent showed me that wasn’t the plan. I started to pursue work as an artist, but even that turned out to be a false start. I had the talent but I would later come to understand, being a professional artist was not God’s plan. God had something else. 

Inspiration

What I began to understand was while this amazing band had found their niche, I had to find mine. I could be a fan, they could inspire me, but it wasn’t going to make me a musician or even a professional artist. Rush had found their path and mine was coming. They are still my all time favorite band, and they may always be. Their music, by and large, puts a smile on my face, and they showed me new possibilities. 

Redemption

One day I met Jesus, and over time, things fell into place. Art was not a means to an end for me. It was a tool and part of a larger plan. Eventually I felt the call to ministry. I started in youth ministry. My youth group students liked music, so I started taking them to concerts, and that became another piece of the puzzle. I saw how artists used their gifts to communicate the Gospel, and that got me thinking. 

Today

Today I pastor a wonderful little church, and tonight I spent a wonderful evening in West Virginia telling God’s story and painting pictures, and once again life has come full circle. What I dreamt of since I was a little kid is happening in ways I couldn’t have imagined before I met Jesus. I’m really thankful to God for all he has done for me, and I’m thankful that I saw those three guys from Canada that showed me I didn’t have to give up on my dream. 

They’re Baaack!

I saw Rush live seven more times, and have all their albums. My age from that first concert in 1980 are reversed. (I was 16 then, I’m 61 now), and I am still a huge fan. The last time Rush toured, I was in ministry and on the night they were nearest my home, I was leading a wedding rehearsal. No problem I thought, I’ll catch them next time. There was no next time. Rush retired after the R40 tour, and the greatest drummer of all time, Neil Peart, passed away. For all intents and purposes, they were done, and I never thought Rush would be back. And then today, Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee announced they’re going out on tour again, next year for the 50 Something Tour. Joining them replacing the irreplaceable Peart is drummer Anika Nilles. She sounds fantastic.

I don’t know if I will be able to make it to see the Rush tour this time around, (though I really, really want to) but I am glad to hear that they will be around to inspire another generation. Rush is back, and I really missed them. Here’s what I learned. Make your best work. Put it out to the world you never know who you might inspire, and when you know that God used you to inspire someone, what can I say?

It’s a Rush!