This World~Behind the songs

“This World” is a new song that will be appearing on the Rock Rwanda compilation record in an effort to raise awareness and support Africa New Life Ministries and on my latest EP due out this fall. The song was written from the perspective of a broken, weary, desolate, and hungry soul. It was written from the perspective of an orphan.

 

It was not long ago that my world collided with a beautiful soul named Enric Sifa. Enric is a survivor of the genocide that took place in Rwanda several years ago. He lost his family and lived on the streets for most of his childhood. Enric and I had met on myspace through a friend and had kept in touch as best we could via email as he was in Africa and I the States.

 

It was on April 17^th 2008 when Enric walked into the Guitar Center that I was managing at the time and we exchanged silly grins as we realized the smallness of the world. That Enric had flown all the way from Africa strolled right into my life. I am grateful for that day and not only to have made a great friend but I was changed forever in a few minutes. Enric’s good friend had brought him in to buy him a new guitar and He had brought in his old one. I bent down and opened the old case to find a worn down guitar with severely old strings and a hole in the body. This is the guitar Enric had been playing for a long time without complaint. When I went to pick of the guitar and look at it Enric held it and did not want to let go. His friend assured him it was alright and he slowly handed it to me.

 

I can imagine what must have been going through his head. This loud music store and some girl he hardly knows now is taking his most prized possession. I asked Enric if he was ready to look at some guitars and he grinned from ear to ear and so did I. I took him back into the acoustic room and it was in that room that I was changed. The instant Enric walked in his eyes filled with wonder and he let out a loud gasp of amazement. Amazed at guitar-covered walls. Floor to ceiling guitars. I told him he could play anything he liked and he looked at me in awe and said, “I play these guitars?” He pointed to the one he liked and I handed it to him. He sat down and began to strum it. He closed his eyes as if in complete contentment with all that was going on and he said, “I have never heard such a beautiful sound”.

 

My eyes filled with tears and my heart was moved to its core.

 

Everything going on in my life in that moment became insignificant and unimportant as I watched my new friend in wonder and thankfulness.

 

That day I learned something. I saw what joy really means. I saw what faith really means. I saw what humility really looks like. I saw my friend who had lost everything dear to him so full of joy and faith. I saw an example that joy is possible when all hope is lost and peace is touchable when the storm is raging on around me. I saw brokenness made whole. I saw Jesus more then I had ever seen Him in one person. I saw Jesus in this orphan boy from Africa. I saw Jesus in Enric.

 

For some time I have been moved by the devastation going on in Africa but it was this night that I was called out even greater to actually do something about it. There is a country that’s dieing; an entire generation that’s literally dieing. As my burden for the people of Africa grew stronger and stronger my heart was overwhelmed. As an artist I new what I could do.

 

So this song is not only for the people of Africa but it’s for all of us. It’s for the broken and rejected. It’s for the weary and down trodden. It’s for the hungry and the weak. It’s for anyone who needs a hand of mercy extended to them or that little ounce of hope to help them get through just one more day. I pray this song speaks to you and moves you as I was moved that night. I pray that if your hopeless right now you would find hope. That if you’re restless you would find peace and if your broken you would find healing. I pray that if there is sorrow in your heart you will find joy. Lastly, I pray that if you’ve lost your way you would find the faith to believe again.

 

“Come to me all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28

 

To hear the song, click the small “powered by reverbnation” found on the right side of the screen. Please feel free to come back and let me know what you think!

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