Seven years ago, I watched the sunrise from a mountain top in Italy. God had led me there to teach me a very personal and valuable lesson. When I came down, I had a bold calling, and a firm understanding that God would provide for me if I seek first His kingdom instead of pursuing my own. I knew that in this life, the part I had to play was that of the story-teller for Him.
During my travels at this time, I found my heart full of wonder as I heard countless stories of His goodness and providence. The natural by-product of that wonder was music, and though my craft never reached the ears of many, I found that the intimate few who shared in my music walked away with a little bit more wonder. It wasn’t the potency of my music that left people with wonder - it was the stories. I was merely a frame, outlining and drawing attention to the beauty of God’s work.
I remember one of my first such stories came from making a trip to Japan, post Tsunami, and having a conversation with an elderly woman who had lost her home. She recounted her experience of how she survived the Tsunami. When the churning waters breached the impenetrable walls, she climbed a mountain and clung to the idol resting at the top. She believed it was that idol that saved her.
I wrote the song Higher Grounds in response to that conversation - sort of as an ode to the staunch and rigidity of Japanese tradition. I sang about how their walls were not sufficient against the force of God’s relentless pursuit, and that the only respite to be found were the higher grounds of God’s grace. I sang the song once at a concert, and after my performance, a Japanese woman came to me crying. It was a confirmation that there is power in story and art.
Sparrow Projects, our latest initiative, has story-telling and its wonder inducing effects at its heart. It took on new life as my friend and videographer, Niko, caught the vision and used his medium to do likewise. Niko and I have traveled to Egypt and Greece to find stories that inspire wonder, and we are excited to share them back with you this coming Black Friday.
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