Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Ephesians 5:18-20

I could say – and it would be entirely accurate – that any “date-night” with Rebekah is a Bucket-List experience for me. But sometimes we get to do something extra special and Sunday night was absolutely an evening we have anticipated for at least the past several years.

Rebekah has always loved the ukulele. Then, during the pandemic, she got serious. She took lessons, she acquired a couple of nice instruments and she became well-versed in the genre. And that is when she ran across videos featuring virtuoso instrumentalist Jake Shimabukuro.

Shimabukuro can do things with the ukulele that essentially defy logic or physics or even imagination. I always knew that the uke had more to it than the common characterization as a “toy” instrument, but some of the videos were frankly unbelievable.

So when I ran across the announcement that Jake would be stopping by Clayton, NC on his 2025 tour I got online and locked down the tickets in a heartbeat.

“Virtuoso” defined:

All this is by way of introduction to this sentence: “Now I know where to point if anyone wants to know what virtuoso means.”

To be understood as a virtuoso requires a combination of complete technical mastery, unprecedented creative innovation, and world-class stage presence.

So Rebekah and I drove over in time to enjoy a relaxed dinner at Mannings before walking to the Clayton Center, where I earned bonus points by managing to trade our balcony tickets for seats literally on the front row!

Jake played solo, he accompanied himself by creating DAW loops in real time (Digital Audio Workstation), he played alongside bassist Jackson Waldhoff and then did a number of sets incorporating singer-songwriter Justin Kawika Young. 

The energy and innovation was truly mind-boggling, including the classic tones of Ave Marie, the complexity of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, George Harrison’s While My Guitar Gently Weeps, some remarkable Pink Floyd and a medley in honor of Jimmy Buffett, who Shimabukuro toured with for a season as a member of the Coral Reefer Band.

My Bohemian Rhapsody video does not do justice to the amazing sound quality, but it should give a good idea of what I’m talking about. Then, after my sign-off, a sample from While My Guitar Gently Weeps.

Passion and Joy:

I am writing about this A) because it’s a great story, and B) because of the passion and the pure joy these artists play with.

I would use Jake Shimabukuro any day as an example of what it means to put stewardship into practice via day-to-day action. Because Jake – and the other artists – are sharing not just their gifts but their joy. This is an important aspect to highlight, because I believe God gifts us specifically for the purpose of enriching, and encouraging, and lifting up the community.

So the joy part comes not just because Jake Shimabukuro loves to play, it comes out of the obvious fact that he feels privileged – blessed – to share.

And that is a great goal for all of us, to be joyful in our giving because it is such a blessing and a privilege to share – DEREK