%PDF-1.7 1 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Outlines 2 0 R /Pages 3 0 R >> endobj 2 0 obj << /Type /Outlines /Count 0 >> endobj 3 0 obj << /Type /Pages /Kids [6 0 R 19 0 R ] /Count 2 /Resources << /ProcSet 4 0 R /Font << /F1 8 0 R /F2 9 0 R /F3 10 0 R /F4 11 0 R /F5 12 0 R /F6 14 0 R >> /XObject << /I1 15 0 R /I2 16 0 R /I3 23 0 R /I4 24 0 R >> /ExtGState << /GS1 17 0 R /GS2 18 0 R /GS3 21 0 R /GS4 22 0 R >> >> /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] >> endobj 4 0 obj [/PDF /Text /ImageC ] endobj 5 0 obj << /Producer (dompdf 1.0.2 + CPDF) /CreationDate (D:20241222052840+00'00') /ModDate (D:20241222052840+00'00') >> endobj 6 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 7 0 R >> endobj 7 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 2617 >> stream xXFWTn6 ")Rl$$,F&ْhlM,|&5Ҹc,=- KCzUu_LtJ ʼn\y' 3 n6D>yeXMӷVfA8uwp$`묺+Jg'CӔ8b9~a<:asJA؛V_\_"Ŵ(h8"Ys\⋯XC^4v-{Cn FINJYUj6mL_dZX}}L_%?"bxb|j4$jRZuŝFϲD9nt xt;!t){VNC@FA'H1 }1ybM]Qo3ٖ3ENdu+MeYSѹؚNx9Z:EG\k%˶ĚLN*-pY;]ӊRQSu Q SdE޴pӥi4>c)Кc<ŅS9mTKAժ[Ujs-O؏(GQg~sЕxlk֨rB;G DB%wiSipKʷ3 AL},8T˂q Y 5Z9$6~AN%4-@Vފ P6,_YT(ABOi5yףh 븳<}ZO|W&*Qpʋδ.5 #FOV?^]>dJ4^tGoGW@3#`u36!~4iz #kN I8b`K=3yt7{R[6MOיB Gf!ty//Gq,}jעX*,/K>stU۷ ~׮ɷ:3m.ͫKZ<ɾfm+N;Z ϖJfda%0Ld/pj_mt7 opTic}GC#Ȃnz`4u46<2e(- S(vI EY?5M>/`xZbAw[)s.0rUbfыU G?Q %s7O`&)*60 {'0->n-"k5ܰ?ף:^B#_\z7c[Yn\ox#{ɓ\їl׷=ue %ֱ l2Bޮ a}AHN ߸_o(S|wkg|Mَh!QZs*TO| 8e׽4nLFJZ\c= m[^`/;aA9pT=*7JhObl{ݠNp~u/-5y.* &I2M\CZpl}f5chLm'y5<f;ym@tCn';-W1:>wQH|疖b5|**1 ' S]ѩ5O(o|M] aU0NLډ}`=Ia<O8ލfdkRs3C حUm:S4N;cZ Q3|ttmGsfeWUC\ؗĺWh+a7 ؑވ} vt5Naj{C8Y-| 7&}Ժ90u.M7yjXoϸ1=˅z&d?axC zʱvlYhx.(Y?>:f~%͢)Oaz\rڝ` :rhɨ]ؿ=m (G'3>g=s_V.4g 9~uH[#aIk3>ϣSU9n endstream endobj 8 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F1 /BaseFont /Helvetica /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 9 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F2 /BaseFont /Times-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 10 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F3 /BaseFont /Times-Roman /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 11 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F4 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 12 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F5 /BaseFont /Times-Italic /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 13 0 obj [6 0 R /Fit] endobj 14 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F6 /BaseFont /Times-Roman /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 15 0 obj << /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 550 /Height 140 /Filter /FlateDecode /DecodeParms << /Predictor 15 /Colors 1 /Columns 550 /BitsPerComponent 8>> /ColorSpace /DeviceGray /BitsPerComponent 8 /Length 5329>> stream xqDǯ뺒$ILfff&I335Lf2\3I2L&_3$3I$d+$\W=9y9lLss99P`0 `0 `0 `0 !U_:~u = F~sZŻدns⃪Qg¢G(F[-s͓^ DZ>d>3Dr#\OΉ, ZFwjux<;4Ƀxز#_v?nO<|{7c(b{Oū}w[N e~Hs䎷wwOn<1B.k+%U=eԘ -mCj)t:}c'ϓ*n"-ovkZ?R"V%wʶ7s]eX&eǕq` 1-2e JYHCFOUam 7:(Ԙt_@ހN t{B~ :V@}o#7!z^&zFL:ʤn X<- %"bNWqF c` M'4?cH-V`ǵAF>=#Ěm75dB I&7E5<>-͏їFǿl3M6x]Y&)2 FoΌ N.<t i4wL\^=_|Fo؏IȄ ik$ɄL?{?|tmCޮ=~T&iTevϷ'奔s?EꋄLPY͹箵?@L:Aˤ3y_:9AtA*0qVe- e6g)%a}.qKcI V/xʤzM|\ HSql0;*%+Mذ-闛obebu2iU&lLbtIcxb5^B#8 ޮaʻ _ w>j+L:$"&O;bZ K1 jmU玫ݢ=S/J<WO2'_yUPvp=`"aL5 Nl7"rlQT޼==-I[Se* F'(\`󴯉'{:נnVZ TG6*r$Tyx^LJū.C<3` %ANrxUo"˄ 0&$tO F&bIcW3GG͈ y!{m,LkCI d,(2"@ dR%F1thUL8Rݒ^+v9^?sʯYעDl~Qd" N2sc|ov}=F,3K#vxIvG^,[OM&wI[#,Jޙ\ض;L^fv[LbyYvM#/EI#/Zס$(ڼ ," &LK/IF i-Zx彰픢]MKeR n(PhV'LҸ\f$w/ e]"mɷWO߻˱ KerSPe (ӼGMȈ}X?ʍto7ZKl+81_Y&ǡd uʤ1Vw!sQ"/$zNkw(t)2BWQW"˄OXLp:e‡# וzn2F}qlc5ؾ:WH xLz LP:d# Q>(MRېd2Qt$o~R$YR5,-nޜLr_βehd" 2k1lvO X= eC p+[R=jU!֖}_DޟY2 (*wkZQ>Fl̲soR#^u3hhyTԲt.LtD8sk4z4Rbl@zp4hy0Tn\=.fnő Y/:TC9<@fSI$:QR/bq7DfR/ֻn)Vqd"䳽˄GL;ϝRG顼n&%Sv eFv,L"t}I&N> D73]$e)( ;]XhL`kSzJlcC$<)깍h}dr,1ܝRM뭍eMa $?e3f8΍҈&P(x+JU5{I 3 M- ;7|#G9 !\œ&=xp2,L{-`?OW":4uܚEadv ~9q.VdV%UT@73$@W¯B!ݒaVLH:!opr;gAɀiήpfߙR E/IDO*Luf0}{7mfyDxT.g)w5RvHx#Z]&M$ gZUTt+lZqZ_;a&JaG,-JLJDFIcV|:I3nB&;N0Lna=Y_Gl,p5,,kc EKgd;2vt7selT9˸sX޲.6r<1!| L0lTMS1?Xsf cq )KSgBB&׭x. v c@^Yk΀v],E[ɾ QhYyXXC2)g/J@su1ScL, ?C[{V2i͛!סӠ&> 6lu>4Ƕʤ|=12鱧l{^:a/Y%~].26G: p^CZ V&Vedҟ?RrX7d#I]ՕuL1 ?_ /12IEh ̴b<ӯ^e _ϝ䰻^]vy> /ColorSpace /DeviceRGB /BitsPerComponent 8 /Length 873>> stream x1j08-K/)],) &gi+:U̲\"9H!@"9H!@"9H!@eY.Z[p_E{QHKV[/`j%ʒcP,SX4W{7urd5ɱPr:-ֆʇX$$zfZpClbw7z{[]qGlwlGlZiM,ߺ7x}w` L9=3zpWL9 j)ۓB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$e]k` B$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$/؋ endstream endobj 17 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /CA 0.3 >> endobj 18 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /ca 0.3 >> endobj 19 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 20 0 R >> endobj 20 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 364 >> stream xAo0[+LǪjsCB6E_v@V<q&q@_QA KwERyzXqΊj? [v4d-ZkZmp &8sUPm{۹E?L+:UwZFw8CvҪӷjYҼ,/ Iv{ժ<6dH5.V<@z֍'m G4lfzG3 W&N[!R&CKfD3ã^̅dLgounqƷvӦ;GXf LnKV&9V)+ܻ(_7R.as{Y,YX -?} endstream endobj 21 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /CA 1 >> endobj 22 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /ca 1 >> endobj 23 0 obj << /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 550 /Height 140 /Filter /FlateDecode /DecodeParms << /Predictor 15 /Colors 1 /Columns 550 /BitsPerComponent 8>> /ColorSpace /DeviceGray /BitsPerComponent 8 /Length 5329>> stream xqDǯ뺒$ILfff&I335Lf2\3I2L&_3$3I$d+$\W=9y9lLss99P`0 `0 `0 `0 !U_:~u = F~sZŻدns⃪Qg¢G(F[-s͓^ DZ>d>3Dr#\OΉ, ZFwjux<;4Ƀxز#_v?nO<|{7c(b{Oū}w[N e~Hs䎷wwOn<1B.k+%U=eԘ -mCj)t:}c'ϓ*n"-ovkZ?R"V%wʶ7s]eX&eǕq` 1-2e JYHCFOUam 7:(Ԙt_@ހN t{B~ :V@}o#7!z^&zFL:ʤn X<- %"bNWqF c` M'4?cH-V`ǵAF>=#Ěm75dB I&7E5<>-͏їFǿl3M6x]Y&)2 FoΌ N.<t i4wL\^=_|Fo؏IȄ ik$ɄL?{?|tmCޮ=~T&iTevϷ'奔s?EꋄLPY͹箵?@L:Aˤ3y_:9AtA*0qVe- e6g)%a}.qKcI V/xʤzM|\ HSql0;*%+Mذ-闛obebu2iU&lLbtIcxb5^B#8 ޮaʻ _ w>j+L:$"&O;bZ K1 jmU玫ݢ=S/J<WO2'_yUPvp=`"aL5 Nl7"rlQT޼==-I[Se* F'(\`󴯉'{:נnVZ TG6*r$Tyx^LJū.C<3` %ANrxUo"˄ 0&$tO F&bIcW3GG͈ y!{m,LkCI d,(2"@ dR%F1thUL8Rݒ^+v9^?sʯYעDl~Qd" N2sc|ov}=F,3K#vxIvG^,[OM&wI[#,Jޙ\ض;L^fv[LbyYvM#/EI#/Zס$(ڼ ," &LK/IF i-Zx彰픢]MKeR n(PhV'LҸ\f$w/ e]"mɷWO߻˱ KerSPe (ӼGMȈ}X?ʍto7ZKl+81_Y&ǡd uʤ1Vw!sQ"/$zNkw(t)2BWQW"˄OXLp:e‡# וzn2F}qlc5ؾ:WH xLz LP:d# Q>(MRېd2Qt$o~R$YR5,-nޜLr_βehd" 2k1lvO X= eC p+[R=jU!֖}_DޟY2 (*wkZQ>Fl̲soR#^u3hhyTԲt.LtD8sk4z4Rbl@zp4hy0Tn\=.fnő Y/:TC9<@fSI$:QR/bq7DfR/ֻn)Vqd"䳽˄GL;ϝRG顼n&%Sv eFv,L"t}I&N> D73]$e)( ;]XhL`kSzJlcC$<)깍h}dr,1ܝRM뭍eMa $?e3f8΍҈&P(x+JU5{I 3 M- ;7|#G9 !\œ&=xp2,L{-`?OW":4uܚEadv ~9q.VdV%UT@73$@W¯B!ݒaVLH:!opr;gAɀiήpfߙR E/IDO*Luf0}{7mfyDxT.g)w5RvHx#Z]&M$ gZUTt+lZqZ_;a&JaG,-JLJDFIcV|:I3nB&;N0Lna=Y_Gl,p5,,kc EKgd;2vt7selT9˸sX޲.6r<1!| L0lTMS1?Xsf cq )KSgBB&׭x. v c@^Yk΀v],E[ɾ QhYyXXC2)g/J@su1ScL, ?C[{V2i͛!סӠ&> 6lu>4Ƕʤ|=12鱧l{^:a/Y%~].26G: p^CZ V&Vedҟ?RrX7d#I]ՕuL1 ?_ /12IEh ̴b<ӯ^e _ϝ䰻^]vy> /ColorSpace /DeviceRGB /BitsPerComponent 8 /Length 873>> stream x1j08-K/)],) &gi+:U̲\"9H!@"9H!@"9H!@eY.Z[p_E{QHKV[/`j%ʒcP,SX4W{7urd5ɱPr:-ֆʇX$$zfZpClbw7z{[]qGlwlGlZiM,ߺ7x}w` L9=3zpWL9 j)ۓB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$e]k` B$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$/؋ endstream endobj xref 0 25 0000000000 65535 f 0000000009 00000 n 0000000074 00000 n 0000000120 00000 n 0000000461 00000 n 0000000498 00000 n 0000000647 00000 n 0000000750 00000 n 0000003440 00000 n 0000003547 00000 n 0000003655 00000 n 0000003765 00000 n 0000003878 00000 n 0000003989 00000 n 0000004018 00000 n 0000004128 00000 n 0000009703 00000 n 0000010834 00000 n 0000010893 00000 n 0000010952 00000 n 0000011057 00000 n 0000011494 00000 n 0000011551 00000 n 0000011608 00000 n 0000017183 00000 n trailer << /Size 25 /Root 1 0 R /Info 5 0 R /ID[<1f3f713b6fc23cd66f755cf6e1f5394a><1f3f713b6fc23cd66f755cf6e1f5394a>] >> startxref 18314 %%EOF Compose yourself | Caring Magazine

Vol. #28

Grace Uncovered

Read Issue

Latest Impact StoriesView All

Popular Topics

PopularView All

Compose yourself

October 24, 2000
3 minute read
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
Listen to this article

THE BODY BUILDER

If you are a creative person, you’ll understand that rejection is something you cannot avoid and, the sooner you realize it, the better it will be for your self-esteem.

When I was in my teens, a close friend developed an interest in composing and had far more natural aptitude and skill for it than I. His goal, however, was for his first composition to be a symphony. He has now, sadly, passed on and ­ to my knowledge ­ has never written a symphony or had anything of substance published. That is not to say that he did not develop and use his talent for music. He did, penetrating the English classical music scene significantly.

I can remember having an urge to write music at a very early age. One occasion in particular comes to mind. For some reason the Singing Company pianist visited our home to work, as I vaguely remember, on a vocal solo with my eldest sister. I grabbed a piece of white paper, scrawled some lines on it and put some dots on the lines and spaces. I proudly told the pianist that I had written some music and she, graciously, played it on the piano and complimented me. It was, of course, rubbish!

Nevertheless, there was an inner urge to compose and ­ initially ­ a strong urge to be published. I was fortunate in that the then Head of The International Music Editorial Department (IMED), Colonel Albert Jakeway, took me under his wing, mentored and encouraged me. The first composition ever published was a song in New Songs For Young People. It was entitled “A Christmas Lullaby” and, to my surprise, was recorded a year or two ago on a CD by The International Staff Songsters. It is also the theme of “Rhapsody for Cornet” written for me by Lt. Colonel Ray Bowes (R).

However, after almost 45 years of writing and submitting music for publication by the Army my expectation of publication has lessened significantly. Rejection letters have been commonplace and, for an officer especially, can be very frustrating since ­ if the Army cannot (or will not) publish them ­ we have no other publishing outlet.

I have, nevertheless, adjusted my expectations and tend to play the “numbers” game. That is not to say that I “churn” out music (in fact, these days, I rarely write unless commissioned by someone to do so), but that I understand the chances of being published are greater if one submits more compositions. It says somewhere in the New Testament that if you want a big harvest, you have to sow a lot of seeds. It’s true! It is also true that if you sow few seeds, the odds of a great harvest are less unless the “seed” is of superb quality and the “ground” into which it is placed is fertile and receptive. Even then, one needs to be prepared for the “grim pruner” who will inevitably turn up.

It’s true of any area of creativity, writing and getting books published, for example. You have to be prepared for inevitable rejections… not necessarily because of the poor quality if a manuscript, but simply because there may not be a demand at that time for what you offer. It’s fatal if you refuse to write more until your precious first manuscript is published… you have to keep writing and refining your skill as you do so in order to improve the chances of selection and publication.

There are lessons here that perhaps we all need to learn in a different context at this time of visioning and strategizing. First, that to reap a big harvest, we have try lots of things. Secondly, that we need to recognize that rejection may come, but that success demands that we keep trying. Thirdly, that the needs of people determine the kinds of programs they will respond to, not our personal preference.

So, compose yourself! Write on

Download this page as a PDF

You May Also Like