My Dad just looks at the guy and says, “He’s asking, after so many years since his passing, gave this incredible sermon about grace and
going to be famous, don’t you know? He’s what are some of the things you might want to said than in times of tragedy we are covered in
going to play for ten thousand people a night, say to him today? a kind of grace that only comes from God. It’s
why don’t you get it?” And I smiled and went,
almost an umbrella we all lived under all those
“If you say so Dad.” (laughs) But he knew, and [Jonathan] You know I would just probably tell I believe he prayed it in. He was such a man him how thankful I am and grateful I am being of God, he really was. I’ll never forget when he his son, and how much he inspired and instilled So I would tell my Dad that God did not forget
passed away, he had this look on his face of in me. I wouldn’t be who I am without him, just about us, that God was there that day and He
wonder, his eyes were open like he’d seen the so much about him, even my good health is wept with us. What the enemy sent for bad, He
Lord, like he’d finally met his Maker. I remember from him, I’m almost seventy and no one thinks made for good. That He covered us in grace,
closing his eyes like they do in the movies, and I’m seventy. I don’t look seventy or feel seventy, all of us for all these years. I went back there
thinking he’s gone to the better place now, I jump my horse every morning and I’m hitting sixty years later and sang a song at church,
cancer can’t touch him anymore. He went the ski slopes. I’m living a vibrant and active “The Day They Became Angels”, and did it
quickly, I mean in three months he was gone, life running around the world with Paula. And without crying (laughs). I didn’t break up. When
sixty-three years old. But he didn’t suffer like just that I found the Lord again, I would want to I first preformed that song it was on the fiftieth
so many other lives suffer when they get old. share my return and my discipleship with Christ, anniversary and I had to practice in my studio
I’m glad the Lord spared him and gave him and that he led me to Christ. I had sort of this not just losing it because every time I would start
a dignified way of dying. He died at home, I post traumatic syndrome from the school fire singing the song I would start weeping. I knew I
was there. (covered in the book), and I was numb for a had to be strong for the survivors, I couldn’t fall
long time. I couldn’t work out how those kids apart at the piano. So this time I went in and did
had to pass from the fire, it was just so horrific. it proudly and with honor, and what a grateful
I didn’t really blame God, but I wondered where moment, it’s just the closure that you get after
He was. Why? Those questions haunted me something like that. But I would share that with
for a long time, and God showed me recently my father and say, “You know that church that
that He was completely involved in healing. My was boarded up for twenty-five years that I
church that I went to, the school that burned thought was going to get knocked down? Well
down had a million-dollar makeover by some it is brand new, Dad, they fixed it up.” And I
Franciscan brothers and has been totally couldn’t believe how beautiful it is, this is in one
[WM] In reading through your book Don’t Stop restored. I walked in and I wept. I said, “There’s of the worst neighborhoods in Chicago, it’s
Believing it’s clear that you and your father had a remnant of grace, Lord. You did not forget one of those neighborhoods they’re looking to
a very special relationship. If you don’t mind my us, you were there to heal.” Then the Cardinal restore. It is horrible, but here is this jewel sitting
Journey // “Open Arms”
June 2019
years.
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