"A" Lister

Arriving before the break of dawn to soak up the Austin phenomenon that is SXSW, I found a rising tide of die-hard live music aficionados. KGSR camped out at the Four Seasons to air their morning show for the week. It provided a great indie-music sampler platter. Two songs per artist, with a stripped down set along with some minimal introductory DJ banter provided a great platform to absorb the week’s overwhelming festivities.

Each emerging artist was gaining some attention. 2008 was unanimously a break out year but none of the talent could classify as a household name.

Unexpectedly, an “A” List-er entered the room in the midst of Friday’s broadcast. Austin’s own Matthew McConaughey graced the crowded the room with his presence.

And the room changed.

It went from appreciative, if not supportive, as if the burgeoning young talents had home-field advantage to being awe-struck. As if now we were in the presence of greatness. We were no longer rooting for the up-&-comer, loaded with potential. We were in the presence of the Hollywood’s elite.

Out came the camera phones.
Sly grins and long stares filled the room.
Side conversation unified.

We were in the presence of a household name. An often-whispered, widely-held crush. A recognizable name (and adoring face) changed the whole tenor of the room.

My friend – a devout and pure music fan – experienced this as a distraction. Seated to my immediate right, he leans over with a hooded voice and asked the obvious question,

“What is that about?!?!”

I could only speculate. I began to think out loud for a moment as ideas came. “It’s transcendent”, I said. Everyone’s heard of him, most have seen his work, many have crushed over him, and, living in Austin, you know he’s around but rare is the day this neighbor comes knocking.

A household name is transcendent. It creates a sense of wonderment. The untouchable just became accessible, at least to some degree.

This is where I can’t not spiritualize it. And without being too melodramatic, this reflects our Creator’s pre-wiring. Believing we’re created to declare worth, offer praise, share gratitude, we are drawn to transcendent moments like gravity. Except, in this case, directionality was an issue. A pressing on in this spontaneous stream of consciousness.

With Matthew, being a household name with adoring fans is a horizontal transcendence. Nothing wrong with it but it also points us to a greater reality.

A vertical transcendence that gives us a glimpse of a life source. Truly, it is the Maker’s design and Glory reflected. Equally, it is that same predisposition to be enamored, awe-struck, even reverent.

We were created for worship.