Credit to djafan - http://www.thevoicedavidarchuleta.com
Seeing the news and videos coming in from Mr. David Archuleta’s India trip, I was immediately reminded of the words from a person of great faith, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and of her works in India and with lepers. She said:
“Let us more and more insist on raising funds of love, of kindness, of understanding, of peace…. the rest will be given.”
No matter our own personal beliefs we cannot but be deeply moved by a young person, 20 years of age, giving love, kindness, understanding, peace and bringing support to those who are shunned, unwanted by the world at large.
It’s hard not to write about David in over the top hyperbole; the conundrum, however, is that writing in that manner is somewhat freakish. He is after all mortal and subject to the same imperfections as we. He is about as “what you see is what you get” as one can be and has listed out his own personal challenges time and again. Imperfections certainly exist but are overshadowed, from my perspective, by his beneficence. For one’s writings to be taken seriously however, the premise is to look at all sides and address them. Otherwise the validity can be diminished in the eyes of objective readers.
It’s hard to strike that balance finding the words that convey the reality, what is there and what isn’t, with sincerity and authenticity. I find when addressing “what isn’t” I’m trying to enforce my image of “what should be” and also with the tone that I’ve lived longer, and, therefore, am wiser and smarter. And the fun here in being a fan at this “freakish” level, is watching David share HIS journey.
For he is a young person engaged in charitable works, who is in essence an episodic life guide, conducting, for a short time, his fans to more abstract places. In this case to a heightened awareness of humanity, to increased knowledge and greater wisdom of ourselves and those around us.
We have all encountered people in our lives who teach us by word or deed, who show us greater knowledge and wisdom. They can pop up anywhere, anytime, from any faith or background and teach us or guide us for a time along a particular path. They can also introduce us to others who help us out based upon our needs. These episodic life guides, can indeed, resonate powerfully with us.
Once I was in a Discovery Channel store and out of the blue, an older man, deeply tanned, white hair, in khaki’s and a tee came over and pulled out a book from the stack I was browsing, put it in my hands and said in a rich southern drawl, “You need to take this home.” Ahhhh…ummmm…gulp….at first I had to replay in my mind what he said. Then after I closed my gaping lips, I asked what the book was about. He explained it was about quantum physics but written for young people.
I opened the book and started to flip through it and became absorbed. When I looked up, he was gone. I wondered if he was a store employee, but when I asked at the checkout counter, they did not have a male employee on any shift. This all too brief encounter left me with a enhanced sense of awareness of life’s mysteries, of random acts of kindness, and, later, a sense of ‘ah-ha’ for my young son. You see he had been searching for a direction in his studies and that book started him down the path that has ultimately turned out to be one of his great passions….and that all started with a chance encounter with a stranger who turned out to be for just one instant, a significant guidepost for my son.
We all have told our stories, at least those of us who comment here in cyber fan land, of how David first popped up in our life, how we were first affected by his music, his personage and his good works, and on and on…and again and again. David’s first AI “Imagine” performance captures all of this for me.…a brotherhood of man… a la David Archuleta style.
With his latest journey to India and subsequent blog, it has become apparent that he can be seen as an episodic guide, a teacher, into the realms of knowledge, wisdom and spirituality for those who choose to listen at a deep level. And when someone impacts you so deeply with life’s simplest messages as if they were fresh and new, messages like:
- Be joyful
- Be grateful
- Work with diligence
- Be kind to people
- Love one another
….then we cannot but agree that the reasons are deep, quite personal and the gratitude profound to have chanced upon such.
And David’s good works, how he goes about his life, his giving of himself, his love, his kindness, his smiles, his joy, reminds me of something else Mother Teresa, from a life devoted to giving and loving those in need, shared:
“I’m a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.”
So too is David in both his good works and his career, a writing utensil in the hand of a Higher Power, sending messages that resonate deeply in our hearts.
No matter our faith, we can easily connect to the Divine, the Universe, through David’s music, his philanthropic works, his love of humanity, his joy, his giving.
We fans have the good fortune to hear and see David’s very own love letter to the world as it is being composed.
— Kizzi
SnowAngelz: Canadian fans of David Archuleta 
Well, Kizzi, you’ve done it again! This is an amazing treatise on where we all stand with David at this special time in his life. Your words are the “pictures of inspiration!”
Very nicely written, Kizzi. I also think that David has been fortunate to have wonderful “guides” in his life and another “example” he sets for us is to be receptive to the thoughts and ideas of others … just as you were receptive to the suggested book. We all need to listen with an open mind to see if something might be of value to us and others. We can then make the choice whether it’s something we feel we should do or not. If we don’t really listen, then we might miss so many opportunities. Small choices every day can make a big impact. How nice that your choice from even a stranger’s suggestion made a good impact on your son. Good listening and good reasoning.
Y’all have a great day! 🙂
{{{Kizzi}}} your post is pure love, kindness, understanding & peace! David as a “life guide” … how true, in a confusing world with so many mixed messages and conflicting pressures, he manages to keep putting one foot in front of the other on a path of authenticity and integrity … showing us how it’s done.
“We fans have the good fortune to hear and see David’s very own love letter to the world as it is being composed” — LOVE this! And that he sends us those letters in song.
(His latest vlog is up in the “must see sidebar” btw … already up to 5,600+ YT views! … great comments there, like: “People love you because you’re so true!” and “Can I borrow your jacket? It’s awesome!” 😆 )
Another comment from the Kids Vlog – “YEAH! You like buzz lightyear too! Lol I’m 16 and I LOVE spongebob. AND. I’m not ashamed of it. Everyone in my class knows it too. I also love Ben 10! But bugs bunny is my ultimate fave. He’s legendary, and he’s one COOL rabbit. Okay, I gotta stop rambling. I’m so happy I found a fellow pixar fan!”
(((KIZZI)))
Yes, David is human and we may tend to focus on ‘the good’ all the time, ‘the bad and the ugly’ may, to some extent, become revealed to us “freakish”fans as David’s life journey is revealed to us and will likely only lead to other “episodic life guide” experiences for those open/willing to listen.
Mother Teresa’s words quite fit David in their deeply simple yet profound meaning.
So much that resonates with me Kizzi in this artfully crafted write up…
Kizzi!! Adore the way you write>> makes me feel so peaceful and happy and warm!
“It’s hard not to write about David in over the top hyperbole; the conundrum, however, is that writing in that manner is somewhat freakish. ” <<>>”Imperfections certainly exist but are overshadowed, from my perspective, by his beneficence.” I think you got that so right.
The story of the guy in the Discovery story is an awesome example of being open to life….That a short, chance encounter can become a guidepost on the journey, Just wow!
I know that for me the fact that I “caught” David on a TV show that I never had watched before (or since) is one of those moments that truly was a gift from above and has made David a “episodic guide” for me.
“And the fun here in being a fan at this “freakish” level, is watching David share HIS journey.”
“We fans have the good fortune to hear and see David’s very own love letter to the world as it is being composed.”
(((hugs))) to you Kizzi for those two lines^^^ and this entire article…. I love hearing your voice 🙂
kizzi, What a profound and beautiful post. Your words says it all about David.
Beautifully said Kizzi! Life is about sharing and caring 🙂
Hey Kizzi! this post is awesome! I don’t have a lot of profound words to share and I am not a great writer like you are, but I love your thoughts and your words and your experience with your chance encounter. David isn’t perfect but he loves life and appreciates what he has been given and ….may I say is doing a tremendous job in using his talent to do some good. When I saw his vlog about kids, his happiness took away all of my worries. 🙂 Think I will go out and make some snow angels today! Thanks again Kizzi!
Did someone say snow angels??? 😆 Have fun, Munk!!!
Heck yeah! I have over 3 feet of snow on my lawn! Maybe I will take a pic! LOL!
“He is about as “what you see is what you get” as one can be and has listed out his own personal challenges time and again”.
“a love letter to the world”… indeed!
“We fans have the good fortune to hear and see David’s very own love letter to the world as it is being composed.”
Beautifully written words, Kizzi! ❤
How beautiful, Kizzi, “We fans have the good fortune to hear and see David’s very own love letter to the world as it is being composed.”
A love letter indeed, and what a message it has for us.
Tawna
Kizzi – amazinggg post! You’ve said everything so beautifully! I love your story about your chance encounter! I looooove stories like that, I think it’s so cool.
Said this before I think but still loving the vlog about kids. He is practically bursting with joy when he is talking about the kids at the target. <33333333
Busting in here with an FOD find – Contigo La Distancia from the Mentors press conference in Honduras last year
MP3 please someone???
Your wish is my command! lol Download Contigo Honduras HERE.
*bows down*
Kizzi, Bravo! 🙂
Hi Everyone – thanks so much for your kind, supportive and personal responses. 😀 Long day today and not over yet. Thanks again for all the wonderful comments!
Kizzi, thank you for such a lovely, insightful and beautiful post. How I enjoyed reading every word. Interesting that you refer to David as an “episodic life guide”, it’s not the first time I have read that about David. I do believe that there are those wonderful human beings in the world who are here to help teach, inspire and heal in various capacities, David certainly being one of them. Have to echo your lovely words again:
“We fans have the good fortune to hear and see David’s very own love letter to the world as it is being composed.” Oh how true and what a magnificent composition it is!
Loved your beautiful expressive words Kizzi.
Still loving David’s latest vlog….he does exude so much joy it is just simply contagious.
Love the video of Contigo from Honduras, thanks for posting Awestruck and thank you TOfan for the MP3, wonderful!
AFAC Update
“While in India, David got to read to the children of the Rising Star Outreach school in the very library that the successful Bumper Sticker campaign helped fill with children’s books!! … The “David Inspires Us” bumper sticker fundraiser raised $2,547.79, benefiting Rising Star Outreach & the children of the leprosy colonies in India with books for their new school library!”
New vid’s from Aneheim – the Grove – fabulous audio
For you TOfan – My Hands (nanaanaaay on YouTube also has Falling Stars, MKOP, The First Noel and more)
wowza, awestruck, thank you!!! (love the “jacket cam” lolol)
Nice item about D. on this cool site for young people (thanks @frogcooke for the find!):
http://dreamerent.com/2011/02/interview-with-david-archuleta/
“soulful, relatable music” … love that! 🙂
off-topic:
Someone at B96 radio in Chicago loves David (isn’t that Showbiz Shelley’s station? 8) )… a link to a blog post about his “Kids” vlog was posted on their home page! (Click HERE for post.) And they even included a recent good picture of him … imagine that?!
Kizzi,
“We fans have the good fortune to hear and see David’s very own love letter to the world as it is being composed.”
You have written an exquisite piece, like always 🙂 I feel so fortunate to not have my ears and heart clogged preventing me from hearing and feeling David’s love letter. Thank you Kizzi.
Just a few hours of Valentine’s Day left, so I want to squeeze in my thoughts of why we “Love” David. I said this on the Voice the day before you asked.
“The goodness that is David sees the good in us. No wonder we love him.”
Happy Every Day with David and his music in it!