Recently, my husband and I made a huge decision. After several years (yes, years) of praying, considering, questioning, and praying some more, we decided that it’s time to say goodbye to the band, Lately. I’ve been playing in a band since I was sixteen years old, starting off in my little youth band at the Baptist church I grew up in. A band is a lot like a marriage – a lot of ups and downs, a lot of good times, a lot of struggles, where communication is crucial and emotions have to be the caboose, not the engine. We have had a lot of fun over the years and learned a lot of lessons along the way. But after ten years as a band, it is time to say goodbye.

I want to make it clear that this is by no means an indication of issues or problems. We didn’t split up because we just couldn’t take it anymore. Quite the contrary. As I said before, we prayed over this for two years because on our selfish side, we didn’t want to give this up. It is a lot of work and lot of thankless hours, but it’s awesome, believe me. But we knew that God was leading us somewhere else in each of our personal lives. As for me and my family, it’s a new season for us – a season of diapers and bottles, family time and precious memories. It’s a time to focus on the new challenges God has placed before us – namely parenthood and its accompanying mysteries.

I will still be writing music (I can’t help but to write). I will still be releasing music. I will still be leading worship. It’s just not going to be the driving force behind every decision I make. It’s going to be something I do as the Lord leads, when the Lord leads, how the Lord leads. The easiest way I can put it is this: previously my focus was God first, music second, family third. It’s time to prioritize to God first, family second, music third. That’s how it should have been all along.

So here we are, facing a brand new chapter of life. And I can think of no more fitting scripture to commemorate this exciting moment.

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace. – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Here’s the to the future,
Morgan