I love when Jason Gray and his family stop in at the Warren for a visit. My kids love it too, even when the Gray kids aren’t with them, partly because they love to hear Jason tell stories. Usually when someone’s telling me a story that I’ve already heard I stop them mid-sentence, but with Jason we lean in like we’re hearing it for the first time.
Jason’s newest album is a collection of live performances and stories from the road called Acoustic Storytime, and you can get it on iTunes and at his website. I picked two tracks for your listening pleasure. The first is an excellent song he co-wrote with Andy Gullahorn called “The Reason That You Brought Me Here”, and the second is one of the stories we’ve heard in our living room about seven times.
THE REASON WHY YOU BROUGHT ME HERE
I know I’d get an answer
That I can’t understand
If I ask that Your intentions be made clear
I know Your plans are greater
And in that greater plan
Lie the reasons why You brought me here
This story would be different
If it were only mine to write
There are secrets I would never volunteer
But secrets lose their power
When they have no place to hide
Maybe that is why You brought me here
Ooooh, all I see are the ruins
Yeah, as the smoke starts to clear
Ooooh, I hope You know what You’re doin’
‘Cause You brought me here
It’s a mess of my own making
This I won’t deny
And though the consequences shake my heart with fear
If I was happy with the way things were
I’d give more of a fight
I guess I’m grateful that you brought me here
Ooooh, all I see are the ruins
Yeah, as the smoke starts to clear
Ooooh, I hope You know what You’re doin’
‘Cause You brought me here
And if it’s hard to raise the white flag it’s even harder to believe
That surrendering is worth the sacrifice
And the very thing I always feared would be the end of me
Was a way to come alive
Now it hurts to be this broken
But it’s bearable somehow
As the chance to prove I’m worthy disappears
I always heard You loved me
But I think I know it now
Is that the reason why You brought me here
I’m grateful that You brought me here
Andrew Peterson is a singer-songwriter and author. Andrew has released more than ten records over the past twenty years, earning him a reputation for songs that connect with his listeners in ways equally powerful, poetic, and intimate. As an author, Andrew’s books include the four volumes of the award-winning Wingfeather Saga, released in collectible hardcover editions through Random House in 2020, and his creative memoir, Adorning the Dark, released in 2019 through B&H Publishing.
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