2200 West End Avenue

I ran off to Tennessee 

"Happy birthday to me!"

I didn't know I wouldn't wanna leave 

I went lookin' for adventure 

but didn't know what I was in for 

The Ryman, the Opry 

All the museums 

All the fun 

On a double decker bus tour 

Thru the streets of Nashville 

God came lookin' for me 

2200 West End Avenue 

I saw the sign- God loves everyone 

Unconditionally 

For two years I ran from God 

I avoided the Church 

So I thought that couldn't include me

I ran from organized religion 

I ran from religious trauma 

Hurry up, driver!

There's so much I wanna see 

There's so much I wanna do

Hurry up! I gotta get to the zoo 

But I didn't know these people were different 

this church at 2200 West End Avenue 

"God loves everyone unconditionally"

Words that danced in my head 

They followed me down to Chattanooga 

They held my hand on the Walnut Street Bridge 

I tried to run, but they chased me back 

They chased me all the way back to Lynchburg 

Slowly I began to believe 

These words also included me 

I stopped runnin'

No matter where I tried to hide 

God was sure to find me 

I began to realize that I could finally breathe 

when I stopped running and trying to hide

"God loves everyone unconditionally"

Now I know I'm truly free to be 

who I'm created to be 

I'm realizing the truth 

that found me at 2200 West End Avenue 

God loves and accepts me fully 

(and these people do too)

I can let my guard down 

and breathe 

I can finally breathe 

I can heal from the lies I was taught 

so many years ago, and the trauma 

Put the broken pieces back together 

Stay with me 

Let's make a masterpiece 

Haunted

I never knew your name 

but I'm haunted by your face everyday 

"Please don't laugh at me," (you said)

I would never laugh at your situation 

Part of which I've been in 

You were pregnant and homeless 

in the hot Nashville sun 

Mocked and humiliated as you asked for help 

I know it's embarrassing, scary

needing help, just to be turned away 

I wanted to help you 

I wanted to give you a hand up, not a handout 

Most people ignored you, or mocked and laughed 

I would've helped you, but I don't carry cash 

I was just a tourist, I'm not from Nash 

I wish I knew your name 

You're not forgotten, I promise 

I see your face everyday 

Six months later, over 400 miles away 

I think about you 

To wish you well is simply not enough 

I'm haunted by your words 

I think about your tears

I think about the burdens you bore

I remember your hair, disheveled 

the splotches of dirt on your face 

and the unclean dress you wore 

I remember, wishing I knew 

where the resources were,

where to find you some help 

I remember you, wishing there was something 

Just something I could've done 

to ease your pain 

Please believe me when I say 

I'm so sorry 

I think about you and cry 

I hope your baby was born healthy 

I hope you're in a better place in life 

I hope you've found peace 

I hope you've found relief 

I hope you know you're not forgotten 

That you matter, that someone cares