On my day-off I visited a musical friend and his collaborators who are rehearsing for a series of shows leading up to Christmas. Having, as requested, helped them resolve some guitar sound problems, and offered some thoughts in running order among things we broke for lunch.
For me its great way to spend day-off time with some creative people. However having not met the other members of the ensemble before, the conversation at my part of a fairly large table drifted towards my current work and commitment musically (very little) - which led inexorably towards how I spent my time and made a living.
Disclosure of my day-time role produced that interesting reaction " I would never have guessed etc etc"- and I am never sure what to think about it on reflection.
Sometimes I feel flattered and privileged to challenge peoples' pre-conceptions. Othertimes it makes me aware (and perhaps a little sad) that these folks ( two lapsed Catholics among them) should hold such negative stereotypes of the Church and clergy in particular.
Among musicians it nearly always offers a chance to say why "I gave up music" to become a priest - and musicians seem to easily appreciate the importance and sense of calling involved in laying aside a musical role.
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