Misty Waters
I recently used the song in a YouTube video to help find my oldest daughter Haley after she ran away from home. That’s the subject of my blog post today.
I am writing this to help answer most of the questions that people have been asking and address some concerns that people have. I think I’m also maybe writing this as self therapy.
If you don’t know the story, on Monday Dec. 26th my oldest daughter ran away from home. I did all the normal things, called her friends, took to Facebook & Twitter to post pictures and ask for help and called the police and the National Center For Missing & Exploited Children. As the influx of questions about Haley began to mount, I thought it would be easier to make a quick video that would answer most of the reoccurring questions so everyone could be more focused on finding Haley and less on wether or not she had her cell phone.
Here is a link to the video:
Another thought was that the video could possibly spread to some of the cities that she had placed on a map and maybe someone would see her or her car and either call the police or help keep her safe.
A huge part of me hoped that Haley herself would see the video, realize how much I loved her and call or simply come home.
The most important thing that came from all of this (and my sole intent) is that Haley is now home safe and she is getting help from a local therapist.
I know that my motives in this have come into question and to those that have accused me of using this event (or even creating it) to promote my band, I say “good for you.” We should all remain cautious about things like this spreading across the internet and our Facebook pages. There are a lot of people out there who are evil enough to use something like this for personal gain. I am, however not one of those people.
If this had been a publicity stunt, it failed miserably. Since the day Haley ran away, the band’s Facebook page has had in the neighborhood of 20 - 30 “Likes”, the Twitter account has had about the same “Follows” and the band’s website has had a normal amount of “Fans” sign up. As far as promoting my band goes, Haley’s running away hasn’t done a lot (and that’s OK). When I posted the video and other information I didn’t include the band’s Facebook, Twitter and website address because it was the farthest thing from my mind. I just wanted my daughter to be found safe.
I love my family very much and would do anything to keep them safe.
Another debate that has emerged from all of this is the following:
Did social media help find Haley or just good old fashioned Police work?
Where should credit be given for finding her?
Well let’s set the record straight once and for all - Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords gets all the credit and glory for finding Haley.
With that said, Law Enforcement agencies from here to California did an amazing job and I would like to thank Celeste High & Officer Kevin Korinek with the APD and Sheriff Joel Richardson with the Randall County Sheriff’s Dept. I would also like to thank Officer Alan Severy and the Carlsband PD for all their work and respect.
There are hundreds in Law Enforcement that worked on and off duty (I don’t even know what their names are) and I’m very grateful.
When Officer Severy called me the morning of Jan. 3rd and told me he had Haley in his custody, I thanked him over and over for doing such a good job.
Did Law Enforcement play a role? You bet it did!
Did social media play a part, you bet it did! Social media got people globally praying to God. There we’re literally millions of people around the globe praying for Haley and I deeply believe in the power of prayer.
The Bible says:
Luke 11:9 (NLT)
“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”
This is exactly what happened!
When I reference the numbers of Facebook “Likes” on the Find Haley Page or the Tweets or the YouTube views it’s not to give credit for actually finding Haley. I do this because I AM AMAZED that there are MILLIONS of people around the world that would stop what they are doing, pray and spam their friends on their favorite social site.
I have so many people to thank that the list would seriously have millions of names on it. (I also have my good friend Josh Wood to thank for traveling with me to bring Haley home.) But the best way to thank everyone is to give the glory to God where it belongs and his blessings will be poured out on every person that was involved in finding and bringing Haley home. There are also many who are still praying for Haley and still offering whatever they can to help.
I was starting to think the world was filled with more evil than good, but now I believe the opposite!
Is the moral of all of this that I shouldn’t have used my own song in this chapter of my life? I don’t think so. What other song would I have used? I also think that an artist is authentic when their art is woven into their life like a tapestry. The fibers and strands of my tapestry include God, family, friends, my music and my business. It would be false to try to weave something else into the fabric and damaging to remove even the smalest fiber.
I have found, as I get older, that things that are authentic and genuine hold great value to me. I don’t believe that someone should be one person when they go to church, another at work and another at home. I am and have always been a musician. I lost that part of myself for over 15 years and it ate at me every day. I will never again deny who I am and pretend to be something I’m not.
There will still be some people who believe that this whole thing had an ulterior motive and there is nothing I can do to change that. I think a certain amount of skepticism is healthy in the world we live in.
Now what?
Should I take the video down? I don’t think so, not yet any way. I’ve had too many parents tell me they have used the video as a proactive way of talking to their children about running away. I think that’s kind of cool and would much rather a parent use my video than have to create one of their own.
Have I made any money from all of this?
No.
The whole trip to California and back has actually taken a big chunk out of my savings.
What will Haley and I do with all of this? Firstly we will get Haley some help and get our family back together and moving forward. Some have suggested that we create an organization that will help reunite parents and runaways. I’ll probably be doing what I always do when there is a life decision to be made.
I’ll be praying.
