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Weeping uncontrollably is never a way I like to start off a “Stuff I like” blog…but to tell you the story of Miss Annie Bethancourt and myself, is where I must begin.
(No, I wasn’t weeping uncontrollably due to Annie drop kicking me, although she can be violent at times.)
I was in Prague touring around with a few friends and simultaneously enduring one of the lowest points of my life. Prague was beautiful but I hit a low that particular day and had to go back to the hostel to be alone. It was the type of sad where you are crying so hard that you actually let out moans because it physically hurts your body.
So that was fun.
The depth of my hurt was causing me to question God’s goodness…a place I didn’t want to go, but couldn’t help being. Logically I knew there were people in the world suffering to a greater extent than me who still trusted God. But when feelings are so real and cause your body emotional pain in a physical manifestation, God’s comfort and closeness can understandably be questioned.
I turned my iPod on and came across a song that I hadn’t heard. It had been put on a mix for me and I didn’t know who the singer was, but the words spoke so deeply that in that moment, I didn’t feel alone. I now know they were a gift from God, telling me to hang on, in my time of wavering belief.
Months later, living back in Portland, I went to a concert with some friends. I made the connection that the artist singing, was the same whose voice and lyrics comforted me in lonely Prague. She lived in my city!
I felt compelled to tell her how her song had ministered to me. After the concert I attempted to be that fan who corners the artist and professes her love of a song and could I know her address, shoe size and social security number?
You know, the usual.
I was mid-way through, “Your song really touuu….” when some friend of Annie’s (who she was way more excited to see) came through the door. I was relieved because I realized I was in fact being that fan.*
Awhile after, I attended a prayer meeting at my church. I showed up late so I could sit in the back and hopefully dodge group prayer time…but it didn’t work.
(Joy, what part of “prayer meeting” don’t you understand?)
My eyes dodged around for a familiar face and wouldn’t you know, Annie was a few feet away. Hoping she wouldn’t remember my attempted “you changed my life/fatal attraction” story, we scooted towards each other and simply prayed about life.
Do you know what happened after that?
She asked for my digits. Yeah…that’s right. Annie uses prayer meetings as a place to pick up friends. Kind of forward if you ask me, but I opted to give her my real phone number and played it cool. It was really hard to not share my life long dream of singing back up…
But… as they say in the biz, the rest is history…
We eat endless amounts of salsa, go for walks where she lets me sing (then lies and tells me I am good). We laugh, cry, call each other out and pray for one another.
Even last week, Annie who is currently in Costa Rica writing music and surfing her little heart out, sent me an email with a prayer written out to God, just for me. She had no idea what was going on in my week, but once again, God spoke to Annie…Annie spoke to me, and I felt God telling me to hold on.
Thank you Annie, for your words, your voice and most importantly, your heart for Christ.
______
Check out Annie’s incredible new release: Three Hundred Suns on iTunes or her website. It’s insanely good–she is an incredible lyricist. “Revolving Door” is a favorite among many.
Also, my brother’s production company shot a music video for Annie using thousands of photos!
My current personal favorite is a song she wrote for ME on the ukulele last week in Costa Rica. An undue honor…
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Love and Respect (Now) is a division of Love and Respect. Please be considerate.
Abbey thinks...
Joy,
You have told me about her music before but I had never stopped to listen until reading this blog. Thank you for sharing, I downloaded the album. Remarkable music. Miss you friend. Abbey
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