The Hardest Places I’ve Played the Blues Part Three: A Homeless Encampment

“Under a bridge near the river is where I met him. He camps there and calls it home. In his eyes, I saw the struggle of a life castaway. He said my name is Sinner, I’ve got no place else to go.” These words are from a song on my new album Far Enough titled “My Name Is Sinner.” Although the man (I named Sinner) doesn’t exist, the location and the people that I met under the bridge are very real.

For the past few years, I’ve been invited to be part of an event called “The Worship Wagon,” whose mission is to do a church service for the homeless and feed them all dinner. The venue is under a bridge at 1st & Grand Street in Kansas City, near the Missouri River. It was the people I met there that inspired me to write this song.

As I looked into their eyes I could only imagine the pain they’ve experienced that brought them to this place. It was like their eyes were screaming at me, “What are you going to do about me?” Homelessness is a complex issue that needs a host of us working to find a solution and bring assistance to those who desire help within this community.

Every time I am invited to play under the bridge I feel a weight. I guess a better way to describe it is I feel a responsibility to be blatantly honest and as kind as possible. As I select my songs for the event, I look for songs that allow me to speak openly and honestly about what I know can help us all. Please notice what I said, “What I know can help US all.” I cannot help but include myself among those who need help… and really be honest, can you? Because if I am, to be honest, I must first know and admit that I am just as messed up as everybody else. We all live on this planet that we broke, (I’m being honest now). We can blame God, the devil, our parents, the government, and everyone else we can think of. But in the words of the U.S. President from Independence, MO: “The Buck Stops Here.”

So, what is the answer to all of our problems? Is it a happy gospel blues or Christian blues song? Well, maybe it depends on the messages in the songs, right? There is only one answer to all of our problems, love! Love is the answer that God chooses, so that has to be my choice as well. After mankind (that’s us) sold out the planet and told God that we no longer trusted Him, we tried to hide from Him and started blaming everyone else. Then He came up with a plan that only God could come up with. His plan wasn’t I’m going to punish them, they will get what they deserve. It wasn’t I’m going to curse them, be mean and angry to them. He would have none of that. His plan was then and is now, I’m going to love them.

Jesus came to this planet to show us the Love of God. He took upon Himself all of our sins, pain, and sickness and defeated every enemy so that we could know The Love of God for ourselves. He saved me from myself.

Peace,

Jimmie

P.S. Leave a comment below and share with me your toughest place to do what you do!