Most of my songs in the past have come from listening to my heart, and sifting through its contents and questions. For the past few years however, I've been sitting and listening to the hearts of others, hearing their stories, and writing songs in their honor and legacy. What an amazing twist this has been in my career, and a huge blessing. My upcoming album (Summer of 2024!!) are all songs I've written about other people's stories.
So, what is the The Perfect Path? Let's just cut to the chase - the Perfect Path is the Way of Forgiveness. I'm not talking about religious forgiveness - I'm talking about forgiving our neighbor as well as our bitterest enemy. Turning the other cheek level type sh*t. It is about a man who forgave his son's killer, and transformed thousands of lives from that one decision to forgive.
Who was it who said "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind"?
I met Azim Khamisa in 2019 while performing at VISION: A Center For Spiritual Living - he was speaking at that service, and the story of the tragic loss of his son Tariq to a 14-year old with a gun, along with his subsequent suffering and brutally difficult choice to pursue forgiveness of his son's killer, and lobby for his release, just left me in awe and in tears. I got to know Azim over the next several months and could not help but write this song about the sort of peace and fulfillment that is the fruit of forgiveness.
Here's a little secret, and it's the sorta thing that I wouldn't or don't share too often, as I'm still trying to figure out how this works - and I don't even think anybody reads this blog anyhow, so I'm just gonna say it - but when I'm writing a song about someone who has passed, I sit and pray, and ask that soul what it is they would like to get through in the song. I open myself, then I start writing. It's an art I have not perfected at all, but it is an avenue I'm interested in pursuing more. I'm not saying Tariq wrote this song, but maybe he helped in some way?
Back to the story -
When looking into the eyes of the 14 year old, Tony, who killed his son Tariq, Azim did not see a murderer. He saw the same spark of humanity and soul inside Tony's young eyes as he had in his own. Through difficult hours and days of meditation grappling with his loss, in his meditation he 'downloaded' (I love this word!) the realization that there were victims on both sides of the gun, and forgiveness was the only way through this. Tony had been a victim of incredibly difficult circumstances that led him to seek out acceptance in a gang. Over the years, Azim became a father figure to Tony, was a tireless advocate for Tony's release, and helped turn Tony's life into one of service.
If only we could do this with our own enemies - personal, corporal, and national - what a different world this would be. If we could see the humanity in those we deem as enemies, that same spark, that same soul, we would know that to do violence to another is to do violence to ourselves. If we had this consciousness, war would not be possible. We would simply refuse to kill. I do hope one day we do have that awareness - John Lennon invited us to Imagine it...
From burying his only son, and in his memory and legacy, and with the imperative of his Sufi Muslim tradition to "do something of service in the name of your loved one", Azim founded the TKF - Tariq Khamisa Foundation, which, along with Tony's grandfather Ples, has impacted tens of thousands of at-risk youth with the message of non-violence, responsibility, and peace. It is a wonderful organization - please go check them out.
Today is Tariq's birthday - that's why I'm releasing this song in his honor this day. He would have been 50, just like me.
Also today (March 6th, 2024), Azim is also launching a worldwide peace initiative called the "Peace Through Forgiveness" Project. Their goal is, quite literally, world peace. Find out about how you can be a part of this movement by visiting them at www.PeaceThroughForgiveness.com/community
Also, watch this video that was just also released today about this incredible story.
Happy birthday, Tariq. Happy Birth Day, Peace Through Forgiveness Project. Happy birth day, "The Perfect Path".
I am honored to be a part of this. Please help me, and us, share this message of peace. Share the song with your friends and family, or with someone who may need to hear it. We're working on releasing a really awesome video for the song soon as well. Stay tuned, friends.
