A Rich Mullins Memorial
"If if sing, let me sing for the joy that has born in me these songs.
If I weep let it be as a man, who is longing for his home"
This page is dedicated to the memory of Richard Mullins who, carrying
out his mission, died in a road accident September 19, 1997. I knew
Rich when we were college students in the late 70's and played drums
in an early band. I was only in the group for the first year,
but in that time, I got to know a truly remarkable person who I knew
would turn the world upside down wherever he touched it. Here is a
link to a friend's pages that can express the deep feelings we share
much better than I can.
The Rich Mullins Web Page
"If I stand let me stand on the promise that You will pull me through,
And if I can't let me fall on the grace that first brought me to You,
If I sing let me sing for the joy that has born in me these songs,
but if I weep let it be as a man who is longing for his home."
"Another hour deeper in the night
Another mile farther down the road
A man can drive as hard as he can drive
And never get as far as his heart was meant to go
But sometimes when you look up in the sky
You think we might be closer than we know
...But I will reach the other side
Please don't let me have to wait too long"
Some of my personal memories of Rich:
Going anywhere with Rich driving was truly an adventure. Not only
wondering where you would end up, but suffering through tricks on his
passengers such as keeping his speed going into an intersection,
pretending he didn't see the red light, knowing the light was timed to change
right before he got there! If you've never seen a car full of nervous
people...
The joy he expressed when he got his first recorder. And how quick
he picked up any instrument. One week a beginner, the next week
making beautiful music.
"Lord help me be what You want me to be
'Cause being Yours is all that I want
The moth and the rust will eventually claim
Everything I took as my treasure
But in You I have riches this world can't corrupt"
Going down to the midnight "Dollar Flicks" at an old theater in
downtown Cincinnati. Then spending what was left of the night on the
couch in an apartment which was nearly bare. Rich never had many
worldly goods. But what he left behind were treasures beyond measure.
His witness will shine in our hearts for many years to come.
"See the Teacher sitting on a mountain
And see Him walking along the shore
His friends and disciples are gathering around Him
Never spake a man like this before
And this is why a man as holy as He
Had to die alone on Calvary
Cause it was the only way, we could ever see
The heaven in His eyes"
Playing music with Rich was an incredible experience. So much
creativity and talent in one man. He certainly found his niche.
His ears were tuned to God's leading. He loved life and lived it to
the fullest. Maybe that very exuberance contributed to his early
departure, but if he hadn't lived more cautiously, it wouldn't have
been our Rich.
"And there's One True Love in this world of lies
And out of all the beauty I've found
I find there's only One True Love
And there's One true love"
I remember we went to see a movie called "Brother Sun, Sister
Moon". This was an old scratchy movie about a man that at the time I
knew nothing about by the name of St. Francis of Assisi. That simple man, maybe
even a "simpleton" who left all worldly goods behind became one of
Rich's role models. As St. Francis kept that simple goal in front of
him, so Rich Mullins never forgot that simple goal, love God with all
your heart and love your neighbor above yourself.
Rich loved the legend of the young Prince Arthur, humble and strong,
kind and generous, not even knowing he was a child of the King yet
destined for the throne. We found out that the musical "Camelot"
was based on "The Once and Future King" and read that book. I've
recommended that book to many since then and recommend it to you.
"When I leave I want to go out like Elijah
With a whirlwind to fuel my chariot of fire
And when I look back on the stars
Well, it'll be like a candlelight in Central Park
And it won't break my heart to say goodbye"
I think back to the shock of hearing Keith Green's name over the
radio that morning so long ago. First disbelief, then shock and grief,
then the healing comes. And the resolve to more fully follow
ourselves. Selah.
Richard Mullins was our Audie Murphie, our Nelson Mandela, our
William Wallace. He challenged us to far greater depths that we
imagined possible and was our inspiration. Yet, realizing the
incredible talent he had been given, he never pointed to himself, but
went to extreme measures to keep the focus on Jesus. And Rich did more
than that, he led by example. As we mourn his passing and suffer
our loss, let us keep that in mind, that Rich never wanted "fans" but
disciples. Yet never wanting to take the place of the great "Teacher"
but only to point us *to* the great Teacher.
"Could be a celebration
Or it could be a hurt
That makes your soul awaken
In the echoes of what you heard
'Cause when your faith get shaken
Sometimes your heart gets stirred"
Rich never wanted to get too settled. We've all gasped at something
he said to shock us out of our complacency. He knew we couldn't afford
to get too comfortable with this world.
"And did they tell You stories 'bout the saints of old?
Stories about their faith?
They say stories like that make a boy grow bold
Stories like that make a man walk straight
And I really may just grow up and be like You someday"
Rich, we'll miss you. Thanks for everything. You've been a friend to
us all. Give Peter, Paul, Keith, Francis and the rest of the "Saints
of old that have gone on before" a high five for us. And pray for us
still down here. Our stories about *your* faith will help keep us
strong!
"And now they've raised five children
One winter they lost a son
But the pain didn't leave them crippled
And the scars have made them strong"
Please keep Marshall "Mitch" McVicker (who was also in the accident)
and Rich's family and many friends in your prayers.
Jon Hagee - Lexington, KY
P.S. I've been asked to list some of the early song titles.
Some that come to mind are "Elijah", "Heaven in His Eyes",
Sing Your Praise to the Lord", "K.J. Raft", "Seminary Girl", "Here in America",
"Isaiah 40,", "God Made Monkeys", "Hope to Carry On", "Ordination",
"Pictures For a Friend in Summer", "Tomfoolery", "On and On",
"Open Up Your Windows", "Come Lord", "Lake Between the Hills"
and one Debby Boone later recorded called
"Come All Ye Faithful" (or "In Worship of the Coming King"). There were some that were never
recorded, as far as I know.
Members of that early band are
fellow CBC students
Rich Mullins - lead vocal, piano, recorder, guitar
/ Bruce Kirtcher - guitar
/ Jon Hagee - percussion, vocals
/ Mark Hard - bass
/ Dean Heitcamp, vocals
/ Rick Nohle (a student at the
University of Cincinnati) - strings (and wrote at least one of the
songs we did).
In 1978, Dean and I worked together in Colombia South
America for 3 or 4 months.
Copyright © 1997-2007; Designed and maintained by Jon Hagee
|
