Hey y’all, This is the first of a series of new songs that I will be releasing this year! This song is particularly special to me, and is definitely one of my all-time favorites to play live. Click link in BIO to listen. I wrote it in New York City, shortly after I got home from a mission trip in the mountains of Haiti at an orphanage. The culture shock really got to me as I walked the streets of New York. It was actually painful to reconcile just how differently people live in different places. The contrast in living conditions between the impoverished Haitian orphanage and the branded, expensive lifestyle I saw advertised in times square made my head spin. I ducked inside of a church to clear my mind. There I read a bit about the life of Mother Teresa, whose incredible love for the poor inspires me so much. She is someone who traveled the world many times over seeking out the poorest of the poor. But shockingly, at least to me, she said it was when she first came to America, actually to New York, to be exact, that she encountered the worst poverty she’s ever seen. She said “when I look in the eyes of the people here, I see that they feel unwanted, unloved, and like they have no one.” We have so much to be thankful for in this country. I think sometimes we have so many things to attend to and so many blessings that we easily lose perspective of what’s most important. It is so easy to be distracted all the time and to numb our consciences by rushing around. Mother Teresa’s work prompted my to reflect and write “The Rush” as I sat in that Church. My hope with this song is that all of us take a moment to fully acknowledge that person right in front of us... to love our neighbor as ourself. All life is so precious and our lives are so short. I hope that this song brings peace and clarity. Maybe it will even inspire people to make more time for the people in the life. Just maybe this way people will feel wanted, loved, and like they have somebody. Lastly, I was approached by a very generous family who offered to fund this recording. I am beyond grateful for their generosity! God always provides! Please take a listen and share! Peace, jpva