There we sat, in a large gym-turned-concert hall in Iowa, and I found myself wiping away tears. I wasn’t sad—not at all! I was overwhelmed with a sense of awe that there were hundreds of people, most of whom were adults, singing along with “Patch the Pirate.” He was singing his, at that moment, most familiar song, “Jonah,” and this room full of people, from all over the state (and surrounding states) was whistling together and singing together:

“Jonah…Jonah / did not obey God immediately. /

Jonah…Jonah / down in the depths of the deep blue sea.”

We had little in common other than our faith, but there we were, singing in unison, a song that had touched all of our lives: a song about a whale, about a man who didn’t obey God, and about all of us, who needed a catchy-but-oh-so-true reminder that God should always have first place.

I had known Ron Hamilton (now most commonly known as “Patch the Pirate”) for many years prior to that. In fact, I had known his wife and his in-laws since my early childhood, attended boarding school at the same time his sister-in-law was there as a town student, and had numerous other connections with his family. I had come because of those connections—and because my elementary-aged nephew was a big fan of “Patch.”

Ron’s nickname and “brand” came about as a result of the removal of one of his eyes due to a tumor. In his characteristic positivity and desire to use even a seeming tragedy to point others to God’s love, he put on his patch and used the songs in his heart to spread the good news of the gospel to children and adults around the world.

During my years as a music teacher, I often taught his songs (and utilized the lessons within them) in my classroom. I’ve long said that his songs are some of the most singable, vocal-range-appropriate songs for children—of all ages!

My favorite recording of all time isn’t the soundtrack to a famous Broadway musical or to a well-known movie, nor is it an album of greats recorded by my favorite artist(s). My favorite, most frequently played, most happily sung-along-with recording of all time is…

Kidnapped on I-Land, by “Patch the Pirate.”

It’s a faith-based album of story/music, written primarily for children. The overriding theme/lesson guides children into thinking of others, teaches them about the dangers of selfish living, and reminds them of God’s love and grace in spite of their natural bent to selfishness.

At the most selfish time in my life—my early-to-mid twenties—this album released. I was frequently making five-hour trips to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan from the Detroit area, and I would listen to my cassette tape (stop laughing, young readers!) over and over on the way there and on the way back.

I’m pretty certain I have it memorized—vocal inflections, characters’ accents, pauses, and musical dynamics. In other words, you don’t want me in the car with you when it’s playing…but it clearly made an impact.

Today, Ron’s family publicly announced that Patch likely will not be with us very long. His multi-year fight against the disease that first began to take his memory and mental capabilities will soon be over. Hundreds, thousands, and perhaps millions of people around the world have been impacted by his music, his life, his humble use of his God-given skills. His work will long outlive him. His influence will reach far into the future.

This little blog post doesn’t begin to tell you who Ron/Patch is. But that wasn’t its purpose. It had but one long-overdue goal, allowing me to say what I want to say the most:

Thank you, Patch the Pirate.

However, it feels wrong to end with my words. Patch’s closing song on the Kidnapped on I-Land album summarizes Ron’s desire best…and allows me to renew my desire to do the same:

I give my life to Jesus / He shall have first place. /

I give my life to Jesus / He shall be first. /

Christ is my great King! / His praise I will sing! /

I give my life to Jesus / He shall be first!

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Read more about the life of Ron “Patch” Hamilton and find his recordings here: https://www.majestymusic.com/

The crackle. The scent of the burning logs. The cozy warmth.

[Insert contented sigh here.]

Recently Joe and I spent some time at a lakefront cabin near the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, and we were reminded just how much we miss those first two elements of a real fireplace. Yes, our gas fireplace in South Carolina provides cozy warmth and a lovely morning glow to the great room, but it lacks the crackling sounds and the woodsy fragrances that only come from a wood-burning fireplace.

The living area in the cabin surrounded me with views of the lake on two sides, and the fireplace provided its coziness from the corner of the room on the other side. In the quietness of the morning, I stopped to listen. When I did, I heard more than just the syncopated crackling of the fire as it enveloped the logs within its reach. The ears of my heart heard two important lessons calling out to me from within the gently burning fire.

There is more than one way to build a fire.

That may sound ridiculously obvious, but I was reminded over the course of our time at the cabin that Joe and I do things differently. I found myself almost annoyed at his seemingly tedious gathering of twigs and branches, his desire for a roaring fire (I tend to go for slow and steady to make it last longer), and his need to clean up every little speck of bark that dropped in front of the fireplace. [Yes. He knows I’m posting this. Keep reading for “his side of the story!”]

Joe patiently and graciously endures my need to keep the action steps concise and precise—even when it comes to building fires. He sits nearby and loves me anyhow when I criss-cross a few logs, stick a couple of his lovingly gathered, underappreciated twigs under and between them, light a long match and throw it in the middle of the pile to burn, hoping it will encourage the logs to do the same…meanwhile leaving scraps of bark hither and yon.

Somehow, we both end up with a fire that accomplishes what it is supposed to do: burn the wood!

As I sat watching—and listening to—the fire he had just stoked, the words of Romans 12:4-8 came to mind:

 ⁴ For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ⁶ Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; ⁷ if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸ the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Romans 12:4-8, ESV

My mother often reminds me: “If we’re both exactly alike, one of us isn’t necessary.” It doesn’t have to be done your way to be right. Your way is a way—not necessarily the only way! Some people help others by giving them financial gifts. Some help by praying for them. Some help by sending a note or taking a gift to their home. But in the end, they receive help. Take care not to judge the actions of others simply because they do not mirror your own. Instead, utilize your God-given talents, skills, and abilities to light the fire that has been entrusted to you.

Lighting a fire under something may get it burning, but lighting the fire from within something tends to keep it burning.

Frugal woman that I am, I was hesitant to pay what I thought were high prices for bundles of firewood and/or kindling at a nearby store in Virginia. We had brought some larger logs from home, so I thought we could just use what we had on hand to get the fires going.

I was wrong.

We ended up using leaves, twigs, small pieces of cardboard (i.e., toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls), and even scrap pieces of paper from my purse in our efforts to get the larger logs to catch fire. In so doing, we were both struck by the whispers of the fireplace, patiently illustrating for us another lesson.

When we put the twigs, paper, leaves, etc. under the stack of larger wood, it was not only difficult to get the fire lit, but it also seemed to die out rather quickly since only a small portion of the large log was exposed to the fire beneath it.

In contrast, when we wrapped the twigs in the leaves, paper, cardboard rolls, etc. and put those clusters within the stack of larger pieces of wood, the fire ignited more easily and seemed to burn longer and more evenly.

Can you see it? It’s just like us! When an external motivator is used to prod me to do something, it may work—but not as effectively as if I were motivated internally.

We want others to serve, to help, to do the next right thing. We may be able to utilize external motivators initially, but to keep the fire burning, we need to go deeper. To light the fire from within. To give them a why that compels them to long-term action.

We need to do the same for ourselves. We are commanded by Christ Himself to do more than just do from the outside. We are to be who God wants us to be—from the inside out.

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

Luke 10:27, NASB

So how do you ignite a fire from within? Wrap yourself in the truths of Scripture. Surround yourself with those who pour that same truth into your very soul. Open the “flue” of your heart to keep out distractions that prevent the spark from spreading. Keep feeding your passion for Christ and let God’s Spirit use who He created you to be to enable you to do what He has entrusted you to do.