Wavin' the Flag of Inspiration

Inspire: to exert a beneficial effect upon, to stir, to breathe life into.

It's amazing where inspiration can come from.  On the treadmill this morning at the Y, watching Canada AM, I happened to catch a post Juno interview with the up and coming artist; K'NAAN.

His song; Wavin' Flag won single of the year.

I have heard the song many times but never knew the story behind it.  Wavin' Flag  came from K'NAAN's vision to help the people of Haiti after the country suffered a devastating 7.0 earthquake in 2010.  Bringing together young musicians from all across Canada to sing in an extraordinarily beautiful and powerful way and in doing so K'NAAN inspired a nation, no, not just a nation, he inspired the world.

When asked to describe what the experience  of making this song was like for him, K'NAAN said this;  "We were not made to be accountants; focused only on people in terms of numbers.  The human experience is more than that.  We were made to care deeply about, to connect with, to nurture and to respond emotionally and practically to the plight of our fellow man."
Wow.

K'NAAN went on to say that he was overwhelmed by the experience; the emotion of it, the newness, the feeling that he was part of something big.

And big it has been.  Wavin' Flag has raised over 1 million dollars for the people of Haiti.

K'NAAN's words moved me.  Watching this interview, I felt inspired.  Modern day heros do exist.  There are still difference makers among us who like K'NAAN remind me that even in impossibly tragic times, good will overcome.

I have been blessed to have had a few of those moments in my life when I have sensed that something so much bigger than me is taking place.

• leading a camper to Christ
• boarding a plane for a mission to Zaire
• standing amidst 250 plus women and watching them experience a blessing and love they never knew existed or believed they deserved.

Moments when every fibre of my being seems to be standing on end; anticipating, rejoicing, praising, saying thank you Jesus. 

To inspire: to exert a beneficial effect upon, to stir, to breathe life into.  Jesus help me be a source of inspiration to others, not necessarily in big, obvious ways, but in ways that breathe life into the hearts and souls of those I love.