Shaun Groves
The first time I came to Anderson University I was 27 I think. I was a new dad on tour with Bebo Norman and Katy Hudson Perry. I wore girl jeans and struggled to remember the words to my new song “Welcome Home.”
I’m not 27 anymore, I’ve got three kids now, Bebo’s married, Katy kisses girls, the girl jeans have been replaced by looser fitting fair trade organic cotton, and I’ve sung that song so many times for so many years that, well…
Well, college students come up to me now and say things like, “I remember listening to that in the minivan on the way to elementary school.”
Elementary school!
That’s all I have to say about that. I’ll save the rest of my feeling-old rant for the therapist.
Speaking of therapy, I was interviewed by Christine Hoover yesterday by phone, formerly known as Christine Flemming, the girl I took to prom back in 1992, when today’s college students were being conceived – not at my prom, but somewhere else entirely.
Anyway, it’s been a long time since Christine and I talked and it turns out she’s a freelance journalist now – as well as a church planter and mom of three.
Christine asked me stuff I never get asked. She wanted to know about why I made music back in those Bebo and Katy days. And what happened between then and going independent a few years back. And why I make music today.
Unlike other interviewers, she asked not only what I’ve done but why I’ve done it. “What was your purpose?” she kept asking. It was truly therapeutic to think through her tough questions, the continuing relentless evolution of my purpose, and retrace the circuitous path God’s led my family and I down over the last few years.
I hadn’t thought the last ten years of my life over so thoroughly before. It was incredible to see all at once how much has changed not only in my career but in every area of my life – and my heart. Little by little. So slowly that I didn’t even notice some of he change had occurred until Christine asked a well-placed question or twelve.
She listened well, talked with passion about people in need and her family. Still as compassionate and kind and easy to be with as I remember her being way back when. Still loving the things God loves. Some things, thankfully, don’t change with time.
JessicaB says:
I’m a decade behind you, but oh the power in a ten year span.
From an immature, emancipated, pregnant 17 year old, to a (maybe still im)mature, mother of four, 27 year old.
From a broken, to a redeemed marriage.
From a completely self-absorbed teenager, to a nearly 30 year old pursuing a life whittled down to as little “wants” as possible.
And never because I was faithful to God, but because He was patient and faithful to me.
Liz says:
Beautiful testimony Jessica! Isn’t it great how God can redeem every broken heart, every lost path, every moment we stole from Him? Thanks for sharing this! 🙂
Katie says:
Thanks for making me feel young… I hope I wasn’t conceived at your prom. (Or my parents’ prom, for that matter).
Katie
Kelli says:
Ha! That made me laugh out loud.
Shaun, I was a newlywed and fresh Baylor grad ten years ago when my husband brought home your CD and he listened to your Welcome Home song over and over and over for a solid three months. Just that one song. Seriously, when I think of our first year of marriage in our teeny tiny Dallas apartment, I hear the lyrics of that song come rolling through my head.
It’s been a good ten years for us as well. 🙂
Michelle ~ Blogging from the Boonies says:
Seeing as we’re strolling down memory lane, I have been meaning to ask you something, Shaun. How long have you been Christian? As a “newbie” of sorts, I tend to wonder sometimes, how long people have been on their walk with the Lord.
As for me, 10 years ago I was 25. I still considered myself a Deadhead, even though Jerry had died… Was living the party lifestyle and got a real kick out of the WWJD bracelets they used to sell at the gas stations. While I wasn’t outright mean, I know I sniggered and rolled my eyes if anyone talked about God. As an attempt to make sure there was a wedge between us, I decided to believe in a Goddess.
Thankfully, thankfully, how things have changed in 10 years! Thinking back to those wild times makes me feel just so grateful (not Grateful) for how far we’ve come.
JessicaB says:
Newest interweb friend, if this were facebook, I would “like” this post.
😉
Michelle ~ Blogging from the Boonies says:
(She likes me! She really likes me!) I did notice that you’re all super stealth, like a ninja on a tractor, and one cannot actually request your friendship on Facebook. Sneaky.
JessicaB says:
Can you be Bohemian AND Ninja?
It’s worth a try.
Jen Guarino says:
If I didn’t know any better, I would swear that I wrote this exact response. Except for the age difference of a couple of years this was completely me 🙂
I took would have to “like” this as well!
Great post Shaun. Thanks for being such an awesome “mommy blogger”.
Sarah Johnson says:
HA! This is Sarah, Christine’s little sister, who might just have to dig up some old pictures of prom when I go visit my parents for a good laugh. I remember getting rides in Shaun’s cool black convertible, but didn’t realize until later I was probably just being used to get to Christine!
Shaun, I love reading your blog. Haven’t commented until now, but I just couldn’t help myself!
Shaun Groves says:
Brown, Sarah. I rolled in a cool BROWN convertible…that sometimes ran.
Brian Haygood says:
I just remember the Scirocco you had briefly. …probably because I still own one today.
Lindsay says:
I read this statement on the Imago Dei Community website earlier today:
“If knowledge is How, then wisdom is Why.” I thought it was an excellent statement worth pondering.
Knowledge is good, and it will get us to go farther. Wisdom, however, is invaluable, and it will get us to the Father.
It’s cool to hear how you’ve gained wisdom today. 🙂 Thank you for sharing.
Kim says:
I like that. A lot.
Beth says:
I think it’s time for me to leave this party. My 2nd child was born in 1992 and is about to make me a grandma in a few days. I’m getting way too old to be hanging out with the cool people like Shaun. I don’t drive a brown convertible either. Does a blue pickup truck count?
Beth
Shaun Groves says:
Congrats, Grandma!
jen says:
Just pulled Invitation to Eavesdrop up on iTunes – good listening.
Thanks for the mental stroll down memory lane!
God is so good – even when the years take us places we never would have expected!
Meredith Dunn says:
I wasn’t in elementary school. I was in Jr. High. So you’re not THAT old.
Stephanie T. Green says:
I enjoyed the comments almost as much as the blog itself. I’m thankful for the reasons WHY you’ve made the choices you’ve made!