Page 173 - July ONLINE VERSION

J O N A T H A N G R E E R

Old Soul, New Shoes

is “Basin Street Blues”, a song written during a time perspective, and life's stories. To assume you know Your Support Helps
when people of different racial groups in the US everything is to know nothing.
would rarely have come together. My favorite line
in the song is, “Basin Street is the street where all ZGP: I’m going to give you two words and Save Lives

the white and the black folk meet, down in New ask that you use them in a sentence – music
Orleans, the land of dreams.” Music is the connec- and kindness.
tion that can even bridge racial divides. Recently,
our band played a gig at a pizza place in Franklin, With chapters in all 50 states, AFSP is leading the fight in suicide prevention.
Tennessee. The night before, we were invited to a
local downtown home that was converted into a We create a culture that’s smart about mental health through education and
restaurant/bar, and they had this performing stage community programs, research and advocacy, and support for those affected
on one side of the house, had the restaurant/bar in by suicide.
the middle, but then they had this little back room.
This back room was filled with guitars on the wall,
a piano, and some percussionist instruments, and Tennessee
ownership encouraged patrons to pick up an instru-
ment and play together. In this room was a diverse
group of folks, calling tunes and jamming together. 26 $275,217

So, I do believe there is a connection that music
encourages, between others and specifically that ele- AFSP awarded new grants worth Donations
ment that is so central to our conception of the soul. more than $6.2M
A couple years ago on Christmas, my grandmother
Norma Sue, before she passed from Alzheimer’s, was
celebrating the holiday with us. She didn’t remem-
ber our names or even why she was there, but, when
I sat down at the piano and played the old hymn, “At
the Cross”, she immediately knew every single word Jonathan Greer is not only a talented musician, 26 100 10
and sang along with it. Honestly, there was nothing but he is also a remarkable young man. Greer has
else that could have reached into her diminished chosen a path to reach out to hurting people and
memory and pulled that out of her, like music and make a difference through his ministry of God's Talk Saves Lives Volunteers donated Walks
like that song did. It brought me to tears. love and promises. At only twenty-four years old, programs delivered their time to
he is unlikely to give way #StopSuicide
ZGP: Can music make us better humans? to the world through social
JG: I think that we are, by nature, creative individu- media, the press, or even
the plethora of negativ-
als. We like to make and do, be it music, art, or some
other medium. We are creators of space. I think that ity that might surround 46 5
music reveals some unique implications as to why him. ZGP Magazine is
we are here. For me, music is probably the most grateful to have been able
creative space I inhabit. to sit down with Greer to International Survivors of Suicide
discuss music, life, and State Capitol Days AFSP hosted Loss Day events

We don't have to be the island of ourselves. We are pathways to living a simple in 46 states across the U.S.
our best when we come together. We flourish when life through Christ.
we rely on one another for one another's expertise, Greer truly is an old soul
in new shoes.
172 www.zoegracepublishing.com ZGP Magazine ZGP Magazine www.zoegracepublishing.com 173
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