Commentary: JMT: A Troubadour of Truth

Today, my prayers and love extend to every one of those precious men, women, and children who call Little Portion "home" and have lost their Chapel and Common Center. I know they will re-build, undergirded by faithful supporters from around the world. My prayer is that the glory of the latter house will exceed the glory of the former house.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Catholic Online) - I was a radio announcer in Lexington, Kentucky in the seventies, producing a contemporary Christian syndicated program called "Communicator."

One day a blue album showed up in the studio for my show. The album was illustrated with stars and the portrait of a guy with a guitar and really long hair. His name was John Michael Talbot.

I listened to the album and immediately fell in love with the voice, the style, and the message of this new member of the Jesus Movement. John Michael Talbot, I learned, had a remarkable change in his life and was now a committed follower of Jesus Christ. He had been a member of a group called Mason Proffit, with his brother Terry, but now was singing for Jesus.

As one of the leaders and MC of the Ichthus music festivals during that time, I even considered having this incredible talent come and share with the thousands of young people who flocked to central Kentucky every May.

I kept track of this wonderful musician over the years, learning that he had come into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.

I was particularly intrigued since I had begun a renewed love affair with the early Christianity as well as the writings of the Fathers and was returning to my Anglican roots. Eagerly, I started listening and learning from another pilgrim on the journey to historic faith.

As a protestant pastor of a growing and exciting evangelical church, I found myself quite conflicted due to my desire to connect to classical Christianity. Often I would be out at my favorite prayer sight at a local lake where I would cry out to God to become a part of the Church, which existed from the beginning while listening to John Michael Talbot tapes.

When the news arrived today of the fire at Little Portion, it ignited a lot of feelings about this incredible man of God and what our Lord had accomplished through a yielded servant.

I thought about his music, which punctuated my ministry. Each phase of his musical journey seemed to match my spiritual journey from Protestantism, through my years as a priest and bishop in the Charismatic Episcopal Church, and finally in full communion with the Throne of Peter as a Roman Catholic. I still listen and sense an even greater connection as a fellow Catholic.

I remembered the challenges and sacrifices he experienced in establishing his community. The time he spent in a community in Indianapolis, the initial stages of formation, and his persistence in following his heart and his dream. Certainly, there have been bumps in the road, problems and obstacles. One cannot be naĂŻve about such things. Yet, in the end he established a community... not a small task.

I also thought about his continuing ministry to the Body of Christ, and, in particular, to the Catholic Church. He has given us special music, chant from the Hermitage, and liturgical settings. But this is just a little portion (pun intended) of the impact he and his community have made in the lives of those who have visited or offered themselves to the Lord through this incredible place in Arkansas.

From friends and associates, I know of life change, healings, reconciliation, and wholeness that have been borne through the ministry of this community of faith. In addition, the music and ministry of this band of brothers and sisters has had a worldwide impact.

Today, my prayers and love extend to every one of those precious men, women, and children who call Little Portion "home." I know they will re-build, undergirded by faithful supporters from around the world. My prayer is that the glory of the latter house will exceed the glory of the former house.

While awards, other signs of recognition and even their library may have been reduced to ashes, the precious community of this Hermitage have left a legacy of living epistles, of which I am one, as the true signs of their presence and influence at this time in history.

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