To Write Love on Her Arms

For Lee.

Aug. 31, 2008 at 1:34am

hey guys.

i just sat down to write a quick bulletin, but it seems there's more to say...

it's pretty late in florida, a little less late in south dakota, which is where i woke up this morning. spoke to something wild last night, like 50,000 people, at a festival in sioux falls. they gave me a few minutes before switchfoot went on... such a privilege to have the opportunity to talk about real things - pain and hope and help and the idea of community - in front of so many folks. and who would have thought that our biggest crowd ever would happen in south dakota?

i spoke before As I Lay Dying too, and it was cool to meet Nick from AILD - funny to tell him that we were on the same flight to australia earlier this year (but didn't meet until last night). the world is occasionally small.

i had a conversation yesterday with a mother who lost her son to suicide three years ago. his name was Lee. Lee loved music and he played the bass and he loved coming to this festival. his favorite shirts, he would come every year and find them in the tent that we were standing next to. i had the chance to meet Lee's sister Emily, and their friend Michelle. it was just a few minutes but i can't begin to tell you how moving it was - this family and their courage and kindness, as they shared about lee's life and the things he loved and how hard it's been without him, and what life is like these days. they speak in schools now, talking about the realities of depression and suicide, and the hope and help that exist in the face of those things.

my eyes filled up with tears when this mother said that she will see her son again in heaven. she said it with a certainty that i will never forget.

the whole thing reminded me that this work we do, these surprising conversations that we get to be part of... it is important and real and a privilege beyond anything i could ever begin to explain. families like Lee's, they are the heart of the matter. not t-shirts or bands or cool or any of that... the heart of the matter is keeping people alive and seeing lives change. beginning to talk about the things so many people are afraid to, letting those people know they're not alone. letting you know that you're not alone.

i talked about them, Lee and his family, in front of the big crowd last night and something felt right about that, saying maybe God doesn't look down and see this giant bunch of people. maybe God looks down and sees your story and my story. individuals. our dreams and fears and pains and hopes and all the things that make us unique. our questions and our favorite songs. these things matter so much. and somehow maybe we're all connected, everyone there in that field last night, more across a world right now. perhaps we're all in this thing together, part of a bigger story, one not over yet but still being told. hope still happening and all of us invited.

good night or good morning. i hope it's a great one. you are certainly loved.

jamie

ps: it's an unusual thing to talk in front of 50,000 people. i was pretty nervous about it and i wondered what it would feel like. the thing i want to say is this: when i look back at yesterday, the thing i will remember most, the highlight, was that conversation with lee's mom and emily and michelle. no stage no lights no microphone no backstage passes. just four people talking for fifteen minutes. honesty. questions. real life.

i am more and more convinced that the biggest things, the brightest moments, they do not happen on stages. talk to someone today.

Posted in General by Chris Youngblood

Comments (6)

I loved your talk before the Switchfoot and the AILD concerts! I ended up going to both, leaving half way thought the Switchfoot concert.

I remember though, that one line changed, and I think I'll remember what you said because of it. '..It sounded more like the name of a Fall Out Boy song...' before Switchfoot and '...It sounded more like the name of a Panic! at The Disco Song...' I love how you caught yourself when people relized you said it different.

It was really cool of you to come up and talk to the crowds at LifeLight. I know there are a lot of TWLOHA supporters up here, and I think having you come was one of the best things that could have happened.

P.s. FOB and P!atd RULE!

1 | Left by Leesha | Sep. 13, 2008 at 11:04am

it is so cool how you are witnessing to so many people and telling them your story and all about what TWLOHA is about and that conversation had as much influence on me as it did you...i pray that God will be with you on the road and continue to give you strength and courage for when you speak and that people would see God's love through you and they can be healed of their addictions, and that maybe someday i would grow up to be more like you

thanks

2 | Left by Emily | Sep. 14, 2008 at 3:37pm

Wow, that story really touched me. My sister introduced me to this site, and ever since i've been following it. It amazing what God is doing through this, and how many people its helping. This is an amazing thing happening and i really appreciate everything you are doing to help spread the word of God. So many people struggle with addictions and depression these days, and getting the word out that there are people to help is just awesome. I pray for so many people that maybe if they are struggling, like i once was, find this site and know the stories behind it, and just know there is hope out there for everyone, no matter who it is. I thank you guys for doing everything you are doing, and may god bless.

3 | Left by Melissa | Sep. 15, 2008 at 7:40am

Dear Jamie and the TWLOHA gang,

Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. You have inspired me so much, and I aspire to do everything you guys do. Because of you, I am burdened by the horror of SI and suicide, and I want to bring hope to the hopeless and lost. Thank you so much for giving me a dream and a goal.

With love and best of luck to you all,
Hope

4 | Left by Hope | Sep. 19, 2008 at 12:49pm

Dear Jaime,
We were so moved and touched and just completely awed by God when we heard you tell our story from the main stage of lifelight...right before Lee's favorite band Switchfoot! I was walking across the back of the crowd, with a hotdog in my hand, and I heard my name spoken from the main stage...then Emily's name and of course Lee's name. For to hear Lee's name...from the main stage of Lifelight...before his favorie band...was definately what I like to call a "God Wink"...Thank you. There are days when you feel everyone has forgotten...and...I guess they should forget. Thankfully it is not "their" reality. But it is ours. Thank you for saying his name. It moved me and Emily and Michelle in a way you can't even imagine. Our God is truly an Amazing God and chooses to bless us in ways we can't even imagine...at just the right moment. I will never forget that moment or our conversation. To God be the Glory. May we reflect "HIM" always!!
Love, Debbie
P.S. Our 2nd Coffee Shop is now open in Worthington, MN...called "BenLee's Cafe" (named after Lee and his brother Ben who lives in NC). If you are ever in the area...stop in!!

5 | Left by Debbie (Lee's mom) | Sep. 29, 2008 at 8:25pm

jamie,
as i went through the archive of blogs this one stuck out to me.. its really inspiring to know that someone has faith that there is a life after this. i have been wondering about heaven and hell lately and this is helping my belief that i might actually have a chance to go to heaven..

6 | Left by Maddie | Sep. 30, 2009 at 6:51pm

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