The Road, The City, The Conversations
I will never forget the “To Write Love on Her Arms” tour.  In my life I have met many good souls, but only a handful of times have I met spirits of people that I am deeply connected with.  People that I know I would be fine with dieing beside as an old man.

Josh Moore- A musician from Chapel Hill.  Josh is the kind of guy that doesn’t do something unless he sees value inside it.  He has his own path and its full of beauty and bravery and a touch of ridiculousness.  He introduced me to the songs of Daniel Johnston.  His father introduced him to Daniel Johnston.  He has stories worth listening too; stories about America, music, strange thoughts and renewal. We were never able to actually connect a high five, but that doesn’t carry much weight with me. I believe that you will enjoy Josh’s music.  Take a listen.

Jamie Tworkowski- A young man on the front lines of a movement that is opening up opportunities for people to see truth and value in each other.  That is why Jamie is a soul that is not like any other.  He has his own battles and turmoil inside him, but he is honest about it and he invites love, compassion and commitment into the deepest parts of his soul.  I pray that Jamie will be protected as he strives forward on this mission that his life has found.

Aaron and Michelle Moore - A married couple who spend every waking moment helping people find truth and beauty in their lives. I watched them answer hard questions about truth, love, vengeance, and pain with a beautiful display of honesty, vulnerability and awareness.  It was like watching two old folks dance together in their kitchen.

Denny Kolsch- A story of redemption.  A person that only speaks when he absolutely needs to and when he does, you should listen, because he has thought about whatever it is he is sharing.  He is friend that will take much longer than a week long road trip to get to know.  His story of addiction, family, love, and redemption is something that I enjoyed listened to at every show.  There is something life-giving about being around someone who has seen darkness overtake them and was rescued from it.

I had many more conversations with souls that I cannot name. I am grateful for the trust and openness shown in these hard conversations — conversations about suicide, addiction, self-harm and depression that needed to be had, conversations that I truly believe have opened the opportunity for hurting souls to find help.   Two of these conversations compelled me to write this note to you.

A Father in Philly
A father from Philadelphia PA came up to me after the show and told me that his son tried to kill himself last week.  He went on to tell me that he had never heard of TWLOHA before and that he was glad we were in town.  He told me that he didn’t know about his son’s pain.  He did not know how to connect with him, or how to let him know that he could trust his father with anything that he needed to share.  He said that the tour helped them find a common ground.  I pray that it does.  I pray for hope, restoration, and trust to build inside this home in Philadelphia.

A Daughter in Boston
A girl who could not have been more than 15 years old raised her hand during the Q&A time and told the crowd that she had been hurting herself and that she was afraid that she didn’t know how to stop.  Afterwards she came up to me and told me that her father was in the crowd, and that this crowd of caring strangers was the only place safe enough to tell him about her pain.  I pray for truth to set this soul free.  I pray for love and understanding from both sides of the relationship between her and her father.

Some other news:

A Daughter in Brooklyn
I’m back in NYC now awaiting the arrival of a new life: a girl who will most definitely be able to tell me what to do and where to go. When she speaks I will listen, when she hopes I will hope and when she sings I will sing.  I can’t wait to see what she does to the 500 square feet that we call home here in Brooklyn, NY.

Thankfulness
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  I’m thankful for the kind-hearted people who have surrounded this music with thoughtful words.  I am thankful for my family who has helped me and believed in me time after time.  I am also thankful for my friends who welcomed me back home to Brooklyn with open arms.

I miss the road already.  Come to Brooklyn everyone.  We are waiting for you.
Zach

November 16-22 we might be coming to your town!

We might be coming to your town this week!
Nov. 16- Boston Mass.
Nov. 17- Philadelphia, PA
Nov. 18 - University of Maryland
Nov. 20 - Birmingham Alabama
Nov. 21 - Atlanta GA
Nov. 22 - Woodstock GA

go to TWLOHA.COM to find out more!

Last week’s show was a beautiful display of all that matters in life.  Thank you for coming out to the show.  The founder of “To Write Love On Her Arms” which is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide joined us at the show and wrote a blog.  Hundreds of people connected to this organization has contacted us and express beautiful words of encouragement. Please visit http://www.twloha.com/blog/ to read the kind words.