Rich Mullins Crashed My Bachelor Party

I was within a month of my wedding day in the summer of 1997. My good buddies and I drove up to Kansas City to ride roller coasters at Worlds of Fun amusement park and catch a Major League Soccer game at Arrowhead Stadium.

After the game, we returned to our hotel and prepared to stay up even later playing cards. Soon after we walked into the room and before the door even closed, Rich Mullins stuck his head in and asked, "Were you guys at the concert tonight?" I had been to many Rich Mullins' concerts in my day, but not that night.

Apparently Rich was staying at the same Embassy Suites hotel after a concert in Kansas City. He motioned over to my friend Zach who was wearing a t-shirt with Rich's hand written lyrics scribbled across it. Zach had purchased it at a show earlier that year. He replied, "No, but I saw your concert at my college in Abilene, Texas this year. Today we are celebrating my buddy Mark...he's getting married." He pointed to me.

I think Rich recognized me from school (we both spent a lot of time in the Friends University Fine Arts building, and even howled Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith songs into the sky at a Friday night party). Whether or not he recognized me, I believed he did and so I said, "Yep! I'm marrying Jenny Wizer." I was proud. I would have said it with just the same vigor to anyone else. But I knew for sure that he knew Jenny, and yet he looked confused. Most likely he was confused as to why an amazing young woman like Jenny would be marrying a doofus like me! I get it. It's cool Rich, I get it.

I wish I had invited him to stick around for a game or two. 2023-me would have, but back then I was pretty sure he wouldn't want too. So he wished us good-night and returned to his room. It was the last time I saw him.

Two months later, Jenny (Youngman!) and I were prepared to take a youth group to hear him play a concert at a church in Wichita the next day. We got a call in the middle of the night telling us he had died in a tragic car accident on his way back to Kansas from Chicago.

26 years later I still remember asking Jenny if she thought Rich went "out like Elijah". We agreed that he did.

I'm glad Zach wore that t-shirt that day weeks before my wedding. I'm glad Rich barged in on my bachelor party that night. I'm thankful for all the little memories that make up a lifetime. Even the sad ones. Even the ones that make no sense.

It's like that, isn't it? Words said or unsaid. Moments that you wish had lasted longer. Now that I'm older, I generally advise against leaving your hotel door open long enough for a surprise guest, but it's good to pay attention to the moments that do come along. They are good. Even the interruptions--especially the interruptions. They are your story. And when I go, I want to go out like Elijah.