“you tell me stories, and i’ll tell you stories”

since making this blog I have been meaning to tell you all where the name came from. 

a few years ago {probably about 4 now} I stumbled across this guy named bradley hathaway. something hit me about him. he seemed authentic, and like he had something to say, and this thing he had to say really mattered. I liked that. 

I bought his cd’s. and then I bought his books. I think it’s important to purchase people’s art, and words, and ideas they put out there, because that’s what an artist does, they share themselves. something not to take for free. 

over time, I saw this guy live whenever our paths crossed close enough. he continuously seemed like he was authentic, and like he had something to say and this thing he had to say really mattered. I still liked that.

he gave me his “the things that poets write about and the thing that singers sing about” record last summer after giving him a lift to portland after a set. in that short ride, he just shared stories. I liked that. 

since being a child, I have thought of life as a series of stories. when I meet someone new, we share our story. when we lose someone they leave the story, but perhaps still affect the story. everything to me is story worthy. 

on that album he gave me there is a poem called Let Me Be A Lighthouse Shinning On The Sea. and a line in it is “you tell me stories and i’ll tell you stories” here’s the whole thing:

Let me be a lighthouse, shining on the sea
So you can see me showing you where to be
And row, row, row your boat to shore
And let, let, let my heart adore 
you as never before
The birds that sing are the only company I keep
And the sun, as it shines, reminding me of times spent with you
When we had nothing to do
But take walks in parks, and kiss each other
And watch the sparks
And drive down country roads
And sing songs that we both know
We called them lazy days
And we found so many ways to simply enjoy one another
Can we now return to those times?
There is your hand, now here take mine
And look into my eyes, and I’ll look into yours
And you tell me stories, and I’ll tell you stories, 
Of things that have happened in each other’s absence
And we’ll let our light shine across the sea
Showing others of the love now complete
And we’ll make a vow, the opposite of treason
And we’ll thank God for giving us another reason
to thank him for the gifts that he gives, like
You to me, and me to you
And us to the world, 
And the world to us.

I can listen to this poem over and over. sometime I listen to it just hear those few words. when you listen to this poem, there is an urgency behind the words “and look into my eyes, and i’ll look into yours and you tell me stories, and i’ll tell you stories, of things that have happened in each other’s absence”

I get a picture of restoration and completion in these words. There is transparency and vulnerability. This is what I desire in community and relationship. 

When naming this blog, and knowing the importance of story in my life, these words flashed back. So thanks, mr. bradley hathaway, for words put together in a way that connect with me. connect enough to be part of the story. 

if you want a taste of this guy, here’s an old favorite. “the celebration wedding” it’s about heaven {as he says right away}. 

peace and joy on you all.

hannah kristine.