The reason for the tears was a happy one. I was listening for the first time to the final versions of some songs by a good friend of mine, Mr. Ryan Kiesshauer. I was just thanking God for Ryan and for the gift that his music is to so many.
Ryan's first album, entitled "Hope Lost/Found", is musically beautiful, lyrically excellent, and perfectly named. Hope does indeed spring forth throughout the 13 original tracks. I even have proof: I played the album for Erin today, her first hearing of it. Afterward, her very first comment to me was how HOPE seemed to be a major theme throughout. I said, "Hence the title". She said "Oh, what's the title?" So yeah, good choice for the name.
Ryan played and sang in my wedding. Some people may read that and roll their eyes and say "Big deal, Ryan has played in a lot of weddings". My answer to that is "Yeah but I only had one". An honor.
If you like good music, please Please PLEASE go to www.kiesshauer.com and purchase one to fifty of these CDs. Trust me when I tell you that you will not be disappointed, and that you are supporting a young artist who is more than worth the investment. Ryan's a great guy.
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Ryan,
Thank you so much for sharing your music with the world. I know it is not an easy thing to put yourself out there in this way. Kudos to your courage and effort.
Also, thank you for the shout-out in the acknowledgements. I'm honored yet again.
Your music takes me to a higher place, bro. And your lyrics ooze with all of the best things - things like hope and love and grace and truth and healing and awe and allegiance and the promises of Scripture. God is honored.
That line you wrote for Fisher in "You Are Never Really Gone" just destroys me every time I hear it. Thanks for keeping his memory that much more alive in this way.
"Bethany's Song" is wonderful. I cannot imagine a better gift to give to your bride. I admit to being very jealous that you are able to do this. (Sorry Erin... At least I can play this song for you now. And by "play" I mean "press play".)
I'm sorry I broke your guitar back in the day. And thanks for handling that with such grace. The fact that I broke Ryan Kiesshauer's guitar will forever be, to me, a reminder of God's grace - how He and only He can take our stupid and clumsy mistakes and still make beautiful music out of our lives.
And last but not least, it is my sincere hope and prayer that my "rabid fandom" be always encouraging and never annoying to you! Whenever there's an official fan club, I'm running for president.
Much love. As always, I'm looking forward to catching up with you and Bethany sometime soon. At Henry's perhaps?
En Cristo,
Nate
P.S. Hey Ryan, in case you were wondering, here's what I'd like for you to give me for my birthday and Christmas and Three Kings' Day, etc., for the next decade or two: I would like for you to eventually record all four of the songs you sang at the McDade/Edwards wedding. I'm sure you're not busy these days, so if you could get right to work on that... Pop quiz: Do you (or anyone else out there) remember which songs they were?...
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