Nick Linn is a musician I’ve gotten to know here in Rapid City, who plays piano and sings at various bars around town on occasion. The reason I’ve gotten to know Nick is that on most of the occasions he plays, my wife and I generally make a point to go give a listen.

My wife claims I’m his groupie. The word “groupie” seems to imply that there is a group of some sort, so I’m not sure if one person constitutes such? Every proper musician needs a groupie, and I suppose every group has to start somewhere with someone, so a groupie I shall be.

How does a piano man in his 30’s feels about having a man in his 40’s be his groupie? I don’t really care how he feels about it, that’s the sort of stuff musicians have to deal with, not groupies.

In an effort to add more group to his groupies, I asked Nick if he would be willing to come to the campus at Chadron State College, where I work, and put on a concert. Nick agreed, the planning commenced, and I think he successfully acquired a larger following.

The event was relatively well attended by a mix of community members, college faculty and staff, and a few students. When you plan an event on campus, you never know if anyone is going to show up, so I was a bit nervous leading up to it. I didn’t want it to appear as though I coerced him into traveling down to Chadron for my own personal enjoyment.

While we were taking down his audio and visual equipment after the show, we got to chatting about performing in front of people. Specifically, how terrifying it can be, and how despite it going against almost every natural inclination, people still perform. It got me thinking, and what follows is an exploration of Nick’s question, and a cautionary tale regarding the dangers of thinking. Life is simpler as a groupie.

Why are some compelled to willingly, or perhaps begrudgingly, go forth in front of the gaze of the crowd? To vulnerably stand poised, yet humble, look into the breach, and move forward while others remain motionless or recede to their designated places of comfort and safety?

Is it the innate human need to feel competent, the desire to flourish and move towards that which may bring meaning and value to existence? Or is it an act of altruism? A gift to others, intended to inspire action, to convey sentiments of human possibilities, of hope.

To rise up and flourish as an individual for the good of the collective, in the hopes that other individuals will be moved to do the same. A collective composed of flourishing individuals, moving forward from a place of humility with courage, guided by love, curiosity, and wisdom.

Is it an act of selfishness to desire such? Is it naïve, and perhaps a bit delusional, to believe that such is possible? Does the impetus at the helm matter, so long as a better version of the human condition is the aim? Who shall stand and cast that stone? That stone that disrupts the banality of the placid surface, sending ripples of change, of hope, of possibility, infinitely arcing in all directions.

Who shall humbly embody that responsibility? Many have, many will. Will you? Will I? Will we? Someone needs to accept the baton when it is extended, keep it from falling to the ground, keep it moving forward. Keep us moving forward.