Minnie Mentions: Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven (Book Review)

As a younger rescue dog, I wasn’t around in September 19, 1997, when musician Rich Mullins died in a car accident. Mom says she remembers returning home to her apartment after being gone and her friend Kathi coming over and sitting her down to tell her about his death. She had always loved Rich’s music since she first heard Awesome God, but only got to see him in concert once or twice. His music became a lifeline for her in so many ways and to this day there are a few songs she sings to herself: Hold me Jesus, Bound to Come Some Trouble, The Love of God. When her grandmother was dying she played for her All the Way My Savior Leads Me, something she’d been working on for months in her guitar lessons. Unfortunately, she’s not picked up her guitar for years now and would not be able to figure out those complicated cords again without some serious help! I’ll attach a video of her singing it nine years ago.

With that anniversary of his death coming up she stumbled upon the book, Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven by James Bryan Smith.  She also read Rich Mullins: Step by Step. That little book contains short essays by Rich. Mom read the biography over a long period of time, taking it in small chunks to savor it. The book is exceptionally well-written and contains behind-the-scenes stories of Rich’s life, experiences, thinking, and of course songs and how they came to be written.

Rich was an artist who felt deeply and thought philosophically and didn’t mind wading into the difficult concepts that beset living in a fallen world. He was flawed and imperfect, and not many people liked the way he looked at times, coming to concerts in torn jeans, barefoot, looking like a hobo. But his music was compelling and Mom still listens to it to this day, finding new meaning and depth to the lyrics.

This book was refreshing and highlights the burden an artist can carry when they seek to authentically follow Jesus and live out His teachings. The book has many underlined phrases because Rich was a soul who experienced life deeply and the author was personally acquainted with him. He includes stories from family and close musical artist friends.

Mom wouldn’t tell me much more because to try to summarize this book would be to cheapen the life that Rich lived and ministry he had. The beauty of his work is that it continues to not only inspire and draw people close, even today, but helps to fund further ministry to disadvantaged Native American children.

If you’ve never heard of Rich Mullins, I’d encourage you to listen to his music. If you want to be challenged in your walk with God, through the example set by Rich in the way he struggled and lived this life, then read Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven. Because Mom liked it so much I’ll give it five bones, because I’m a dog and that’s what I do.