Has It Been Ten Years?
Ten years ago this evening, the world lost one of the most gifted songwriters in Christendom. You may not know his name, but chances are, if you've attended church even a handful of times in the past 20 years, you've sung his words.
Rich Mullins was one of a kind. Someone you felt you knew just by listening to his songs. He was so secure with who he was that he wasn't afraid to share his broken-ness and personal struggles--his very humanity---with the rest of us. If those things were what he chose to put forth, I can't imagine what he kept to himself.
I regret not seeing Rich when I had the chance. He did a concert in Waterloo ever year, so I didn't make an effort to go in August of '97. Three weeks later, he was gone without warning. And now the angels in heaven are dancing around to the music that I want to hear....
"I think that we were given the Scriptures, not so that we could prove that we were right about everything--it was to humble us into realizing that God is right, and the rest of us are just guessing."
" I don't want to run from the experience of the pain because I would miss what God is trying to teach me through it."
" It never fails. God will put people in your path that irritate you, especially if you're prone to be irritated."
"A faith that moves mountains is a faith that expands horizons, it does not bring us into a smaller world full of easy answers, but into a larger one where there is room for wonder."
"God spoke to Balaam through his ass. I believe God still speaks through asses today. So if God should choose to speak through you, you needn't think too highly of yourself."
Some of Rich's songs:
And now, some song by artists remembering Rich...
Phil Keaggy playing one of Rich's songs--at my request.
