Sarah Hart

Wife, mother, Daughter of God, spiritandsong artist, songwriter, performer and, most of all, SARAH. How do you balance your many callings?

A friend taught me to juggle before I had Addie. That pretty much sums it up!

Actually, I really just try to pray a lot. There's a funny saying in the South: "Give it to Jesus!" (You have to say it with a really thick Southern accent to be funny). But it's so true. Balance is all about giving it to Jesus. Every time I feel stressed about a deadline, or that I'm not going to make it to Addie's dance lesson on time, or Evie will NEVER be potty trained (though she is completely computer literate), or that I will surely miss my connecting flight to somewhere, or that I am not doing my jobs as a wife/mom/artist/writer well enough, or whatever — I pray for help. Translated: I ask Jesus for help a LOT. It helps me relax, let go a little, and laugh at all of life's bizarre situations a lot more. But these many things — I would not trade a single one of them. I am so grateful. As crazy as they all are when thrown together, they are all worth it, worth it, worth it!

Because of your Nashville background you've been a bridge between Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) and spiritandsong's contemporary Catholic music. What can CCM learn from Catholics? What can Catholics learn from CCM?

A heck of a lot! All of us! We like to all say "we are one body," but practicing it is a lot harder. This is true all across the religious board, not just in music-land. I have certainly been guilty of my own misjudgments. If anything, I thing we really need to think about what that "one body" thing means. I think it was quite prophetic of Paul to write the Roman church about being one body with many members. He had to have seen the way people acted to one another — "We are right and you are wrong!" — and perhaps he knew that eventually the church might even splinter and divide. It certainly seemed to have saddened and frustrated him, evident in his letters. So here we are, two thousand years later, still saying "We are right and you are wrong." And yet, we ARE one body, one catholic church, one communion of saints. If I am a big toe and someone else is a fingernail, so be it. Jesus remains the heart.

Another's chosen denomination isn't going to keep me from befriending them, writing with them, singing for their church; and I'm always praying that the same will be true of others for me.

Any advice for young musicians who aspire to a career in Christian music?

PRAY!

That's what everyone says, I know, but it's true. The only reason I pursued it at all is because I honestly prayed like nuts beforehand, got a very clear (and scary!) answer, and moved to Nashville to do so. It's not something to do off the cuff. Truly, pray like mad!

And not everyone is called to move somewhere. That's the best thing anyone ever said to me about this. God might be calling you to pursue it right in your own backyard. That's something to pray on, too.

But if you feel like you should move somewhere to pursue it:

1) Make sure your car won't break down before you get there.
2) Bring money (enough to pay for emergencies, like your car breaking down).
3) Find a church before you get there.
4) Know someone before you get there.
5) Get a place to live or friends to stay with before you get there.
6) Find a job as soon as you get there.

I speak from experience and stupidity when I give those points. :)

Other things to think about: PRACTICE! And learn to write! The church needs more great writers. Trust in Jesus.

A Daughters of God concert is an inspiring event. The Daughters appeal to all ages and genders, but it's interesting to observe the group's effect on women. What runs through your head as you watch mothers, daughters and grandmothers dance and sing along at a Daughters of God concert?

Honestly? Not much. Doesn't that sound terrible? Actually, I am just so focused on the music, getting it right, and having a great time with the girls on stage that I sometimes forget people are listening. Seriously! That's awful. But I love seeing those women all having a great time, laughing, crying, etc. What usually gets to me are the stories afterward, the things women, and even some men, share with me. There are a bunch of those stories: the guy who told us that for the first time in his life he was able to forgive his birth mother for giving him up when he heard "One Mother To Another"; or the kid who told us he was seeking an answer about entering the seminary and felt God say "go" as Nellie was singing "Send Me"; or the couple who just a few weeks ago told me that they lost a child, and had begun a ministry for parents who have lost children, and that they were using "For A Little While" in their ministry. Those things kind of take me aback. We are all really such goobers (I hope the girls would agree. I should really just speak for me), but God does some very cool things through music, no doubt. It's the message, not the messengers.

Your blogs have given us wonderful insight on your children. Are they aware of your career as a Christian musician? How do they react when they hear you on CD?

Addie tells her friends, "My mommy is a rock star." Evie has no clue about what else I do yet, I'm just mommy. But both of them tell me constantly, "Mommy, don't sing!" Addie will say "Mommy, be quiet! You are ruining my ears." And Evie will say "No, no, no! I SING! Mommy, you don't sing!" Everyone's a critic.

A songwriter question: What does the world need now?

Love.
Joy.
Peace.
Patience.
Kindness.
Goodness.
Faithfulness.
Gentleness.
Self control.

A wake up call.

Jesus.

Anyone you want to thank?

James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, for great songs and being my teachers.

Kraft Foods, Campbell's and Chef Boyardee, for products that make any terrible cook look like a genius.

Apple computers, for technology mixed with pain and suffering.

Jeff Thomas, who will never get that plaque, but is great nonetheless.

The inventor of the disposable diaper.

Michael Buble.

Ken Canedo, for patience.

The makers of Tylenol P.M.

Mattel, for all things Barbie, which entertain for endless hours.

Sister Louise Mary, who will always be my favorite teacher.

The Daughters of God, who are real sisters.

Jesse Manibusan and Steve Angrisano, the brothers I always wanted.

Those in the mission field in Russia, Romania, Sudan, the Congo, El Salvador, Afghanistan, Iraq, and on and on, who will be first.

My family.

My friends.

My God.

All the fine folks at OCP/spiritandsong, who love music and Jesus.

Links to Sarah Hart's CDs:
Into These Rooms
Obvious
Goodbye Jane
Daughters of God