My encounter with Ben Harper

  

                                NATE AZARK, GRAPHIC DESIGNER & PHOTOGRAPHER

Every year when Ben Harper comes to town, I claim that day as my religious holiday. Ben Harper's music is a spiritual experience for me. Being in his presence and experiencing his music live cleanses my soul and renews my spirit. 

When I went through the most challenging times in my life, his music got me through it and comforted me. It gave me hope that all things would be ok. 

In perfect harmony, in some of the best times of my life his music was there to celebrate and keep my spirit lifted. 

Many of his songs hold a very special place in my heart where I hold a memory from my life experiences be it good or bad. The emotion that he puts into every word that comes out of his mouth can only come from a man who has lived a life of love and pain. A man with the heart, soul and courage to feel real emotion and express it. 

I do believe that most things in life happen for a reason and that you can to a certain degree manifest your own destiny. I also believe that there are some things that are just completely out of our control. 

A few years back I was challenged with some of the most painful months of my life. Too many things were all happening at once. The worst of them was my fathers cancer diagnosis. 

I was on a flight back from Charleston, SC after visiting my dad. I was full of emotion and the entire flight home I listened to my Ben Harper albums on my IPod. Zoning out into the clouds in the sky and letting my mind relax. When I arrived in Chicago and made my way to the baggage claim Ben Harper was standing there right in front of me. I was certain that I was definitely hallucinating. 

Once I realized that this was definitely reality, my heart started to race. He was standing there peaceful and all alone. I am not one to make a scene and I definitely did not want to bother him but if I did not say something to him then I was going to regret that for the rest of my life. 

As I walked closer to the baggage claim and closer to Ben Harper so many words rushed through my head. There is so much that I would like to express. I wanted to tell him how much his music has meant to me throughout the year. I wanted to thank him for sharing his talent with the world. I wanted him to know that the music he makes changes lives and makes the world a better place. 

My shyness was taking over, the words in my head were beginning to jumble and I was looking down at the floor. Then the most amazing thing happened. Ben Harper grabbed his phone from his pocket and when he looked down towards the ground he noticed my foot, yes my foot. He looked at me and he said "nice ink".  I know that I thanked him and that I talked really fast most likely telling him all about my tattoo. Then a bunch of words came flying out of my mouth and I'm not really sure how they all came out. I tried to tell him all the things that were running through my head. It must have all come out ok because the conversation ended with a great hug. He was wearing the softest baby blue hoodie and he smelt so fresh and clean like freshly folded laundry. 

Ironically, that night he was in town to play a show at The Park West. The Park West is a music venue that my father opened, owned and operated in the 70's. I knew after my meeting with Ben Harper that everything was going to be ok with my father. Today my father is happy, healthy and living cancer free.