Art as a Gift
Visit Healing Hait’s site or blog to learn more about this Twin Cities’-based ministry that has been sharing God’s love in Haiti since 2006. Jeff & Alyn and some team members are there now. Please join me in praying for their efforts. Alyn is a gifted designer and jewelry maker. She truly embodies “art as a gift.” I have a couple of her pieces and they are stunning. I was doubly impressed, because 100% of the cost goes straight to their efforts in Haiti. Please consider supporting the ministry.
.
I told you about my new song back here, how I just knew it was a song meant for Haiti. I wrote it before the earthquake – actually without a thought about Haiti, but in working on it post-earthquake, I couldn’t shake the feeling that
.
God had Haiti in mind when He leant me the words.
.
I’m reading Seth Godin’s Linchpin and it solidified my intention to make this song a gift.
.
In reality, I was gifted the song … the words and melody came to me in a few silent times of reflection with God. I was able to work it into something I wanted to share. And, then, God provided me another gift … time in Nashville with my friend, co-writer and Producer, Carl Herrgesell (he’s a DOVE nominated Producer, by the way). I was hoping he would see its simple beauty and help me adorn it with music.
.
Carl graciously listened to me sing the song and heard my vision for it. He had a heart for it as well and gifted me with his musical brilliance. He knows what sings well and what doesn’t … I always lean on him for his guidance in this area. I sometimes sing like I talk – fast and with too many words. He slowed it down and gave some much-needed silence to deliver the emotion. We re-worked the lyrics a bit on the verses, but the chorus remained untouched. He thought it was special and I was glad it stayed. The bridge I took straight out of scripture in Isaiah 61:3 … another time when I thanked God for the gift of His Word, its beauty & power.
.
Being able to fly into Nashville and spend a few days with Carl is a gift in itself. He took the time to listen and then offered his art as a gift to me, to this song and ultimately, to God.
.
I wondered if maybe this song was the start of my next album. When we worked on Summer in My Soul, we were going for our own standard of “perfection,” something marketable and commercial. When putting out an album, you don’t publish your first drafts. These “rough mixes” with scratch vocals and quickly pulled together arrangements are just a blueprint for what will become the final song. There’s still session musicians to hire, lead vocals to get just right, then editing, mixing and mastering.
.
So, when Carl put together the rough mix of this song for Haiti, I struggled with my excitement to share it right away, while my pride & fear wanted it to be “perfect” before putting it out there.
.
In the end, I realized this is art as a gift … a true representation of the life of this song. It’s bare, it’s raw …
.
it’s two artists using our gifts to share God’s love and grace
.
… for all people … for me and you … for Haiti. It may not be the world’s idea of perfection, but
.
it tells a perfect story.
.
.
I’m looking forward to sharing the song soon. I’m in the process of releasing it. Once the song is available, I will let you know and 100% of the profits will go to HealingHaiti.org. I hope you will consider purchasing the song and sharing information about HealingHaiti.org with your friends and family.
