You are invited to the Tuesday Night Lights talk series: Faith and Art: A Conversation on Beauty and the Sacred. Each Tuesday evening, we’ll welcome a different artist or art expert from within our congregation to explore the meaningful intersection between art and spiritual life as they share their stories and lead a conversation. Come for some evenings or join us for them all, and step into a space where stories, questions, and shared reflections can awaken our sense of wonder, stir our hearts with beauty, and renew our hope in a broken world.
Questions? Contact Pastor Earl at PastorEarl@uumc.org.
About Christy Moore
I am a songwriter, an essayist, a sixth-generation Texan, and a lifelong Democrat who has been teaching writing to engineering students at the University of Texas for 30 years. I host the weekly open mic at New World Deli and a bimonthly songwriter showcase. I have a Masters degree in creative writing from Wilkes University and am currently finishing up a memoir made up of essays populated by a cast of memorable characters, from philandering cowboys to struggling songwriters, who are all trying to find hope in the ashes.
A Q&A with Christy Moore
What would you like to share with us in your talk?
I'd like to talk about my journey as a writer. My friend, Patti Dixon, is a great, unknown songwriter with a great sense of humor. I once heard her describe herself as “a multi-faceted flop.” It was a description that resonated with me. I’ve always wanted to be a writer. In all honesty I believe I’m called to write. I tried my hand as a novelist and a playwright before I switched genres again and took up songwriting. I want to talk about how hard and humiliating it is to give ourselves permission to try creative pursuits. In our society we seem to think that to be considered an artist you need to be making money at it or to be famous. That attitude makes many of us shut down a vital part of ourselves.
How did your interest in music begin and grow over time?
I was was forty, newly widowed, and fueled by grief when I decided to take up songwriting. It didn't take long to discover that I had paralyzing stagefright. On top of that I had no formal musical training. To my credit, I saw the error of my ways and gave up songwriting almost immediately. To God's credit, that was easier said than done. Ultimately I fell in love with and married someone who became my biggest booster and encouraged me to keep writing. Without him there probably wouldn't be much to tell. With him I kept taking baby steps and eventually found myself in a community of songwriters who faced the same challenges and reaped the same joy I did.
In what ways do music and songwriting connect with your life and your faith journey?
1. I believe writing is a spiritual discipline that is as rewarding as prayer.
2. In my experience, music is as close as I can get to the divine.
3. I've had some tragedies in my life. I believe that writing and songwriting, in particular, have saved me.