Mule Resophonic Guitars

Same highs you climb, same lows you go.

Picture this:
You’ve been told that the cold you were fighting was sarcoma and you would die in a month.
You’re struggling to breathe.
You’ve had a round of chemotherapy.
You’ve had a surgery doctors said you might not wake up from.
Your body can barely heat itself as your friend from Phoenix carries you under your arm into the Airbnb and your friend from Michigan puts his beanie on your shaved head.
Imagine sitting at a table with friends after being told you wouldn’t be.

Now imagine, despite the suffering, asking the oxygen delivery guy his full name so you can tell his boss how helpful he was.
Imagine remembering the names of dozens of nurses involved in your care.
Imagine the worst you can say about a hospital losing your test results is “severely unprofessional” or ending a difficult conversation with them with a genuine “I hope you can get out and enjoy the weather.”

Imagine being in that kind of pain but telling your buddies funny stories all weekend while you eat grilled cheese and watch Up in Smoke.

Imagine pulling a new guitar out of its case the day after they tie off an aneurysm in your lung that has a tumor the size of a baseball in it and being able to sing.

Imagine being that full of grace. Undeserved love. This is the love that changes the world. The love given during suffering. The love given when you’re entitled to keep it for yourself. This is the love we need during a time when we’ve built new vocabularies for getting what we deserve.

The most capable humans I know can hold two opposing emotions at arms length. Bad isn’t conveniently ignored and the good isn’t forgotten. I’ve seen my aunt, who lost her husband, daughter, and mother in three consecutive years cry while she laughs. I saw Nat do it too. It’s the most beautifully human example to witness.

Nat and I were talking about the intense joy and pain that creatives experience. He gave me this gift:

“Same highs you climb, same lows you go. “ I asked him what that meant to him.

“As lowdown as you may be always remember how beautiful the heights can be. Sustain the fallen times and the glory returns.” - Nat Myers

-Matt