I 
was looking for a song to sing for a coffeehouse. A ‘cool’ song. One that people didn’t really know yet. And so, I knew who to turn to. I chatted with my friend who knew a lot of cool songs before they were ‘mainstream.’ (He had the 1st Jars of Clay album before anyone knew who they were.) He told me about this little known song by a little known band called ‘I Can Only Imagine’ by Mercy Me.
The story of the meaning of this song for me was published in Mercy Me’s book ‘I Can Only Imagine: Stories of Eternal Hope.’ I emailed (at my wife’s behest) Mercy Me about the significance of this song to me. I didn’t hear back from them until April 2004 saying that they would like to use my quote in the book. For the usage of that quote, I received an autographed copy of the book, which I still have in my office today. You’re welcome to stop on in and look through it.
Here is what I wrote:
I was first introduced to “I Can Only Imagine” in February 2001. I was looking for a song to sing for a church coffeehouse when my friend told me about it. He bragged on and on about how awesome the lyrics were. He because famous for his passion for this song and it became “his” song. He would wonder and wonder about what it would be like to go to Heaven and see Christ.
It is that song that has helped me mourn his death.
On the morning of September 11, 200, on the 93rd floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, Andy J. Kim stopped wondering. Andy’s death, though tragic and untimely (he was only 27), reminds me of the promise that we have in Christ that we will one day be “surrounded by His glory.”
Richard J Lee
Every 9/11, I think of Andy. Every 9/11, I miss Andy. I hope that is always the case.
I was going through my old videos on my computer and I found this video of Andy playing the guitar and singing. If you knew him, you might want to get some tissues.
Andy, I miss you man.
Andy Kim – I Can Only Imagine from Richard j Lee on Vimeo.
What was your experience? What are you memories of Andy? Post it in the comments.
