To Gary, With Love

For two years while I was in college, I roomed with this guy, Gary Driskell. He was a big bear of a man, but could sing like an angel. If "American Idol" had been around back then, he would of been a finalist.

We found we had much in common: both of us had a zeal for the things of the Lord, we both loved music, played guitar and piano, and wrote our own songs. We'd spend hours playing our songs for each other. I'd play one, he'd play one, and so on. We both also had a powerful sense of humor.

We wrote a bunch of songs together, and started a band called "Michael" - though why we named it that, I've forgotten - we played everything from ballads to progressive rock. (We were heavily influenced by "Kansas" at the time.) We reached some level of success in the Kansas City area and even opened once for John Michael Talbot and Mike Warnke (before he was discredited).

Gary had a powerful way with a lyric. I know I've shared this quote before, but one of the favorite things of mine he's ever written and, indeed, one of the finest things I've ever seen written, was this quote from "There They Are Again":

But people just walk on and live in disillusion
Satisfied with their confusion
Leaving death as their conclusion
To life
I guess they just don't comprehend the situation
Death was meant to be elation
Life is but a revelation
Of love

After we graduated, I moved back to Michigan and attempted a solo career in music. Gary moved to Nashville to cast his songwriting bread upon the waters. From that point on, we kind of fell out of touch, though I did call him once or twice and I certainly kept a fairly close eye on his career. You see, Gary did become a songwriter, and a pretty good one.

He wrote music that was recorded by Larnelle Harris, Sandi Patty, and Wayne Watson, to name a few. One of his songs, "Another Time, Another Place" won two Dove Awards and was named "Song of the Year" in 1991. Dove Awards are the Christian music community's version of The Grammys, so they're a pretty big deal.

I was reminiscing about the good times I had with Gary in college this past Thursday as I was updating my website. I was working on expanding the "About Me" section and I'd included a graph on my creative work with Gary. I wanted to get the year he won his Dove Awards correct, so I Googled his name. You can imagine my very great surprise when one of the first entries on the page was...

...his obituary.

Gary passed away last Saturday, February 23, from complications of an elective surgery he'd had. I was shocked. I was stunned. I was in tears in a very short time.

His memorial service is taking place even as I type this blog entry. This is my own little tribute to a man I once knew well and was proud to call my friend.

ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE
words and music by Gary Driskell

I've always heard there is a land
Beyond the mortal dreams of man
Where every tear will be left behind
But it must be in another time

There'll be an everlasting light
Shining a purest holy white
And every fear will be erased
But it must be in another place

So I'm waiting
For another time and another place
Where all my hopes and dreams
Will be captured with one look at Jesus' face
Oh, my heart's been burnin'
My soul keeps yearnin'
Sometimes I can't hardly wait
For that sweet, sweet someday
When I'll be swept away
To another time and another place

I've grown so tired of earthly things
They promise peace but furnish pain
All of life's sweetest joys combined
Could never match those in another time

And though I've put my trust in Christ
And felt His spirit move in my life
I know it's truly just a taste
Of His glory in another place

Gary Driskell is no longer a man of faith, as he has no more need of it. He has the reality of seeing Christ, face to face, in another time and another place. Rest in peace, my friend.