27 Days

Renowned composer George Frederic Handel gave us one of the most influential pieces of classical music in history:  The Messiah.

Anyone who has heard the famous "Hallelujah" chorus - in whatever context - knows his work.  The twinkling harmonies of "For Unto Us a Child is Born" is a staple of traditional Christmas music.  His gift changed our ears forever.

Not only is his daunting musical genius echoed in its frantic interwoven melodies, but also his speed and efficiency.  A professor of mine told me a few weeks ago that Handel composed the entire oratorio celebrating the birth of Christ in less than a month.  I asked him why.  Was it really just that easy for him?  Was he a musical savant of sorts?  Did the music spill out of him as if written by the hand of God?  Was he but a conduit for angelic choruses in heaven?

What prompted him to bless us with such an enduring masterpiece in record time?


Debt.



Handel wrote The Messiah in 27 days to avoid debtor's prison.




Why do some of us crumble under pressure when others excel?

Some of us prefer to take a nice leisurely pace through life, school and work, planning things out methodically so as to never be caught unprepared or unawares.  My sister is like that, always scheduling out her assignments so as to never be behind.  Ever the perfectionist, she thrives on staying ahead of the curve.

Others, however, don't mind putting things on the back burner, only to turn up the heat at the last moment.  I'm afraid in many cases I fall into this latter category.  I've stayed up late working on enough papers due the next day, blowing the glue dry on my way to school on a diorama I'd known about for weeks (sorry, Mom), I even pulled an all-nighter for a project my freshman year of high school.

I had a portfolio review the other day.  This was super important.  Like life-changing, career-affecting kind of important.  It determined when I would graduate, what classes I would take, etc.  I had to include about 20 images of my best work.  I have known about this review for over a year.  I had to print out all of my projects and mount them on mat boards to make them look more professional.  I had worked on several paintings and other illustrations months ago.  But of the 20 images I chose to include for review, I finished putting the final touches on, printing, cutting and mounting about 14 of them.  How's that for preparation?

B. and I have both been known to be up until 3am working on papers and paintings, respectively.  We both seem to thrive when the heat is on.  Grace under fire, efficiency under pressure, we're deadline folks.  I wonder what we could come up with in 27 days if we had prison looking us in the face?


Where do you fall?  Do you have grace under pressure or are you always prepared?

What could you do in 27 days?


S