Rich Mullins grew up in Indiana, made it big in the Christian music industry, and then disappeared to live in obscurity on an Indian reservation in Arizona where he taught music to kids. He made millions, but gave it all away. He never married, never had kids, and died at the age of 42 in a car accident in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere. Yet I will never forget him. And if you ever heard his music, listened to an interview, or saw him perform, I bet you’ll never forget him either.
This week marks 20 years since Rich’s death. While he lived in Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Kansas and Arizona, he never considered them home. He was truly just passing through.
For those who know Rich’s music, he had a way of taking all the things you’d thought, feared or assumed about God, and completely obliterating whatever box you’d put God in. He was so open about his pain, his struggles, and his doubts that you found him believable when he testified to God’s grace and love.
Joy and sorrow are this ocean
And in their every ebb and flow
Now the Lord a door has opened
That all hell can never close.
Here I’m tested and made worthy,
Tossed about but lifted up
In the reckless raging fury
That they call the Love of God.
Rich’s singer / songwriter style of music may not be your norm, the lyrics themselves are a theological feast that provide both comfort and wonder.
I have never heard such honesty and wisdom in dealing with the question of “where is God in my pain” as I have in his song “Hard to Get.”
I have never heard such profound truth as to the truth of God becoming a man as I do in “Boy like me / Man like you.”
And while all Rich fans have their favorites, I have a hard time noting much better than Calling Out Your Name. After all, he mentions Kansas!
Spend a few days with Rich’s music.
Take some time and watch the movie about his life “Ragamuffin” (It’s on Netflix).
Or watch Homeless Man: The Restless Heart of Rich Mullins on YouTube.
Read his biography An Arrow Pointing to Heaven.
Or read the book that changed his life The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning.
Never knew there was a movie….Looking for it now! I remember hearing he had passed. I believe it was a Sunday morning at Southland. What an unusual man. (Drat, looks like it’s off Netflix.)
thank you. this was beautiful and simple. (i think i was just redundant)
I’m subscribing to ragamuffin t.v. as soon as i get the new debit card in the mail…I’ve been waiting for this since the premier was announced in 2012….as an amateur songwriter, nothing has had more of a profound impact on my life than the songwriting style of this glorious saint…nothing has provided more encouragement than Rich’s bold encouragement that it is not only ok to not have it all together…but the preferred reality for modern Christianity….a ragamuffin I shall forever be…no 12 steps required.
I have a lot of memories of Rich’s music and I know lots of others do as well. ” Hold Me Jesus” is one of my favorites. But as soon as I mention that one, I think of “Peace” & “Bound to Come Some Trouble”. I love going back and looking at old videos of his concerts. He was a very wise man. The movie Ragamuffin tells the story of his struggles.