10th Anniversay of Rich Mullins Death

Has it really been ten years?

Rich was ahead of his time. He was "real" before real was cool. He was real in a way that would make people uncomfortable.

I met Rich a year or so before his death. It was controversial to have him at camp, even though he was the "Awesome God" guy.

Rich was a paradox.
A guy who made music who preferred silence.
A guy who desired peace with the world, but often intentionally caused controversy.
A guy who was passionate about God and who was often a jerk.
A guy who lived in extremes.

So someone approached Rich and tried to pay him a complement. She said, "I listen to you all the time when I'm having my quiet times with God."

Rich's response. "That's too bad."

The woman looked confused.

Rich continued. "I guess it's not very quiet then is it?"

Theres a song Andrew Peterson wrote years ago upon hearing about Rich's death.

Three Day's Before Autumn amazing song.

It starts:

Three days before autumn
A cold winter came
Blew in a telephone call when my friend went away
And I swear I heard thunder at the sound of his name
He never knew me at all, but I loved him the same

And it's easy enough
To say he's better off
Chalk it up
To the luck of the draw
Life is tough
It was his time to go and that's all
I don't know about that, Œcause

I'm broken and breathless and bent to the ground
And I'm listening; Lord, but I don't hear a sound
Though the angels in heaven are dancing around
To the music that I want to hear
And I'm watching and wishing and wondering why
But this silence is louder the harder I try
And I cant believe it, but I can't deny
That the winter came early this year

I stood in the kitchen
And I stared at the wall
And I prayed for some wisdom
So I could make a little sense of it all

And I thought about the seasons
How quickly they pass
How there's little to do but hope
That the good ones will last

And this night is beautiful
I see the sky above the rain
And I think I hear the wild wind howling
Come to blow me away

And I take comfort in know that this ain't my home
And I know when I'm lonely
That I ain't alone
And I know that he's singing at the foot of the throne
But that don't seem to matter down here
Because the winter came early this year
Three days before autumn