[July 2004 journal entry]
A friend invited me to go with him to the annual Chet Atkins Appreciation Society gathering here in Nashville. By the end of the day, I found myself thinking about the choice of ‘appreciation’ (L., to value, to rise in value) by the individuals who named/coordinated the gathering. The appreciation so many musicians expressed for the liberty to explore/grow that Atkins encouraged impressed me most. Atkins did not limit or dwarf these musicians. Instead, they drew inspiration from him. Some have in certain ways moved beyond him. This experience strikes me as much healthier than the widespread approach to ‘Jesus’ within the ‘religious’ sphere.
