RockOm

By Trevor Harden, Trevor@RockOm.net

Sixteen years ago to this very day, one of the cheesiest pop songs to ever reach #1 on pop radio topped the charts and remained there for five weeks.

The seven-minute, overdramatic epic was the foundation upon which one very... uh... beefy rock-God belted out the catchy hook that had people across the planet simultaneously singing along and scratching their heads...

"I would do anything for love.
Yes, I would do anything for love.
I would do anything for love,
But I won't do that."
[Meatloaf, "I'd Do Anything for Love"]

Wait, what? You won't do what, Mr. Meatloaf?

In a world yet to be saturated with the Almighty Google, blogs or online forums, we were left wondering what in the hell that one thing was. In one breath he proclaims love as the highest ideal, to which he gives the entirety of his heart, mind and soul; in the next, he is hung-up. The limits had been tested and the test came back negative. To misquote ESPN's Chris Berman, "He... could... [not]... go... all... the... way."

Most of us are also like this. We claim that love is both the road upon which to walk as well as the ultimate goal. Because of our spiritual convictions, we're first in line to say that because all people are sparks of or children of the divine, that unconditional love and compassion should be the foundation upon which we build our lives.

Then comes the application...

The truth is that most of us have limits. We're willing to be loving and compassionate - but to a point. I will do anything for love, but...

• ...that jerkwad just cut me off.
• ...I don't really deal with those kinds of people.
• ...you offended or hurt me in some way.

Remember these immortal words from Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, "Everyone I know has a big 'but.' C'mon, Simone, let's talk about your big 'but.'" Indeed, we all have a big "but." Very few of us are spiritually developed enough to love completely and at all times.

Fortunately, in this life - at least as I experience it - there is a divine grace that blankets our shortcomings and there is therefore no need for guilt or shame, even when we blow it. And it's not even that love and compassion are required of us anyway. If we choose to not make either a priority, that's our prerogative. It's just that most of us who have chosen to pursue Truth have discovered that Love is indeed worthy of our entire heart, mind and soul.

Over the next few days watch for where you come up against your edge. Try to discover your "but" - that place where you reach the limits of your love. Don't beat yourself up about it; we all have a threshold. But see if you can lean in to your "but", your limit, just a little. Through love, attempt to see other people for who they really are, instead of what they have done to you or who they may appear to be through your projections.

We may never get to the point where saying "...but I won't do that" is truly absent from the way in which we love others, but through practice we can enjoy getting as close as we can.

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by The SiXXis

Visit The SiXXis at...
www.thesixxis.com

The SiXXis is a five-piece band from Atlanta, GA who defies categorization. With classical undertones, funk groves, gritty guitar riffs, heavy metal distortion and haunting vocal harmonies, The SiXXis lay a cacophony of sound that goes down smooth, leaving an aftertaste reminiscent of System of a Down, Led Zeppelin, Muse, Queen, Jellyfish, Pink Floyd, Rush, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Imagine Edgar Allen Poe's dark romantic stories and verse set to music - this is the ambiance created by The SiXXis. Watch for their debut CD (produced by the legendary guitarist Adrian Belew) coming soon.

"Forgotten Son"

"This song is about ardently striving to attain spiritual perfection only to see nothing happen. It seems at times the more we do, the more our Creator takes a step back. It's a constant challenge that sometimes turns us away from this path. 'Forgotten Son' has many dimensions. On one hand it presents the fight between Ego and higher Self and on the other, it sheds light on the Biblical story of Job. Job was extremely pious and yet he never complained about the troubles and disasters he encountered. Instead of letting ego take over he let his faith guide his way."

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"Song"

"This song is generally about dealing with those who choose to rely on the same excuses for their shortcomings. Instead of taking positive action they will use excuses as a defense."

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Catch The SiXXis as they open for the Adrian Belew Power Trio in Atlanta, GA on August 22.