Taylor Returns!!

Aright, it's been far too long since I've blogged about anything. That does not mean that there has been nothing blog worthy going on in my life because there has. I mean, I have a 2 1/2 year old little boy and a 4 month old little boy, I lead worship at a Jr. High camp for a week somewhere in Texas, I've traveled on vacation to Indiana for a week, I flew to Florida and drove from there to Northern Kentucky helping a friend of mine move, I traveled with the Caleb Miller Band and lead worship at NYR in Colorado, and all of this within the last month or so. It has been a very busy, but awesome summer for me and my family. Another reason for my lack of blogging has been my entry into the twitter world. My lengthy blogs have been replaced, I guess, by my much shorter (140 characters or less...haha) tweets. That just sounds funny, but I'm kind of getting into it a little bit.

Anyways, this entry just couldn't be explained in that amount of space.

Almost a year ago, when I was still living and serving in Florida, I had my Taylor guitar stolen. I blogged about it when it happened (see October '09 if interested). It was a gift from my Uncle, I had had it my entire ministry life, and it was just special to me and it was gone. Well, last week, when I was up in the mountains with zero phone/internet service, we would go into town to do some work and hang out. It was at that time I received an unusual email from a guy I didn't know trying to track me down. I was a little concerned at first, even though the email said not to be, but who would be tracking me down from Florida? After another email, Rick, a man that I would love to meet, sent me an email explaining what he had in his possession and how it got there. He had my guitar!! He explained in great detail how he got my guitar and what transpired in the months that he had it leading up to him tracking me down. He wanted me to know that he did not steal it, but that he had it and wanted to return it to me. I can't imagine all that he had to go through to track me down. I live in Texas now, there was no name or number on the guitar or the case, but through the internet, he was able to find me and return it to me.



Today, via UPS and a stranger named Rick, a very honest and good man, I received my custom made Taylor 310ce. I can't believe it! I never thought I'd see it again. It's in the same condition that it was in when it was stolen. It has been kept in the case and inside in the AC.

This is an incredible story for so many reasons. I love this guitar and like I said, it has sentimental value to me, but know that my excitement and awe over this event has nothing to do with the guitar. I'm so glad to have it back, but what is most amazing to me is the honesty and integrity of one man that I have never met and by his own recognition is not a "religious" man. Rick told me that a couple of people had offered to buy it from him but he couldn't, with a clear conscience, sell it without knowing where it came from and so he did the right thing.

Rick, if you ever read this, I want you to know how thankful I am for you. Not just for returning my guitar to me, but for challenging me with your honesty and integrity. I feel that I need to tell you that Jesus loves you, you are His child, and that He wants you to know Him. With the same diligence that you sought me out, seek Him out and you will find Him too. I know that what you did for me must feel great, but finding Jesus will be much more satisfying and eternal.


To One End