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Maybe I mentioned that we were in Maui in February.
I had been on the medical mission trip to the Philippines,
and it was on my way home....
During the last week there, the rancher, who makes daily late afternoon trips to the
hot tub, met this younger guy that he was able to chat with... Sometimes the hot tub is full of people, sometimes it is full of cranky people, and sometimes there is no one there at all. But nearly every day, he stops by before the day is done. I find it humorous that someone as quiet as M even enjoys going somewhere and striking up conversations with strangers. He's not a coffee shop, chit-chat, kind of guy. On this particular afternoon, there were about five other people in the hot tub when he got there. He climbed in, greeted the others, and he proceeded to listen. A few of the others were traveling together, and after they dominated the conversation for a few minutes they decided to leave. This leaves M and the young guy.
The young guy throws the rancher a bone, and after saying he is from Ohio, he says he could tell that M was someone he could relate to by his accent and the way the two of them were perfectly quiet while those other guys were talking about how much money they made - or something like that. M asks the young guy what he does in Ohio, the young guy asks M what he does, hunting comes up, and there is no stopping the conversation. I don't see hide nor hair of him for nearly two hours.
He comes up to our place and tells me he met a really interesting and nice guy. (That's not usually the hot tub report.) He tells me that this guy is a singer and songwriter. Not his full time job, he works in construction while raising a young family. I start asking a thousand questions, but all I get is that the guy, is very humble, performed at a place in Kihei the night before, and is extremely down to earth. He tells M that he got an exciting phone call within the past couple of days, and he has to get back for a big meeting in Nashville. To which I say, "and you didn't get his name?" Either he didn't, or he did, and he forgot. Well, it sounds to me like an opportunity lost.
I should have gone to the hot tub.
The next day, in the mid to late afternoon, we are up by the pool. We never do that. But M pokes me in the rib, and he tips his head across the pool. "There's the country singer I was telling you about." I see a young, nice-looking, clean cut guy walking around the other side of the pool. At some point he sees M, they both raise a greeting hand toward each other, and he heads our way. As we get introduced,
I make a mental note, Bryan Lewis. Got it. He and M talk for quite a while when he says he has to catch a late flight that night to get back home for the big meeting in Nashville he was telling M about yesterday. I pipe up. "The only person I know in Nashville is a guy named X" - (doesn't really matter what his name is, but he is head of a major music label.) Bryan practically falls down. He says, "Did you say, X?" And I say, "Yeah, I guess I really don't know him as well as my brother does, but yes, that's him." Bryan sits down and pulls up a chair. "Are you kidding me, your brother knows X?" Our new friend, Bryan, breathes deep for at least 30 seconds. He explains that this meeting in Nashville has been years in the making, and he is meeting with a direct representative of X. All of us just exchange glances for a minute.
Bryan describes it as a "goose bump moment."
We have been talking for quite a while when Bryan says, "Do you have a little time? I'm going to go grab my guitar. I want to play something for you." Of course we have time, got nothing but time. He is back in a flash with his guitar, and he explains that he has played music down by the pool before, and it is frowned upon by management. (What's up with that?) So, we kind of ducked behind some other lounge chairs and all lean in toward each other, and he plays the sweetest, most precious song for us. He wrote it, he sings it, and he has one of the most pure and clear voices I believe I have EVER heard. There were more goosebumps. There were tears.
We definitely had a moment. A true professional, he lightened the mood after that with a true-to-life song about chocolate milk and other things kids like.
Bryan proceeds to tell us about the foundation that he is closely affiliated with in Texas. It is called the Will Smith Foundation. William Naylor Smith was on vacation with his family on Maui in 2007, when he died in a tragic auto accident at the young age of eight. His mother, Susan Moulton, has established the foundation as a 501(c)(3) which is staffed totally by volunteers and no employees are compensated. All monies raised go directly to the programs they fund. Bryan's aunt taught Will as a student in second grade, and after she connected Bryan with Will's mother following Will's passing, they have continued to work together in many different ways.
This particular trip to Maui was for Bryan to perform at a retirement event for Archie Kalepa, Maui Ocean Safety Chief. Archie was a first responder to the accident that took Will's life, because he was traveling a few cars behind on the highway. Susan has remained close to Archie, a Hawaiian sports legend and lifeguard. The Will Smith Foundation has donated to Maui Ocean Safety and last year sponsored the
First Annual Will's Water Day emphasizing water safety on Maui.
Archie Kalepa with the new Ocean Safety Wave Runner, donated by the Will Smith Foundation
I tell this story because Bryan is the person who told us to drop everything and read the book, Heaven Is For Real. I think he just read it this January. After hearing his original song by the pool that day, I felt it was uber-ironic that he had written it prior to the publication of Todd Burpo's account of what had happened to his son, Colton. If you ask Bryan, he will tell you that the trip to Maui this February was full of the most crazy coincidences. I spoke with him yesterday, and he continues to question the big plan for his life. He daily reminds himself that he isn't steering the ship. I reminded him that with small children, it may be a blessing that he isn't on the road and missing the everyday details of life. He knows that. Timing is everything, and he is trying to be patient. One of the benefits of travel is not only learning new things but meeting new people. Over the last several months, we have met lots of new people in all parts of the world.
If this is what it's like to be 50, I want to stay 50 forever!
