How Garth Brooks Changed My Life and…
Why I Don't Want to Go to His Concert!
by Lee Higginbotham
Why I Don't Want to Go to His Concert!
by Lee Higginbotham
While Garth Brooks was rocketing into popular culture in the 1990s and forever changing the music industry, God was also using him to forever change my life. I was 13 years old in 1990 when Garth took off, and I was 23 years old in 2000 by the time Garth “retired” to raise his children in Oklahoma. Those formative teenage years of my life were spent without a dad around and with very little male guidance or role models. What I did have were a stereo and a television! I listened, and I watched. I absorbed it all. I was inspired and influenced by the music and by the man. I don’t know where that influence and inspiration begins and ends. Was it the music or was it the man? I now know that it was both.
As for the music, only those familiar with the songs will know what I’m talking about. It starts with the sentiment behind “If Tomorrow Never Comes.” Lyric: “Tell that someone that you love / just what you’re thinking of /if tomorrow never comes.” Lesson: Tell people that you love how important they are to you while they’re alive and it can bless both of you. It was a HUGE lesson to learn at 13. I’m still trying to do that. Next, it was a matter of faith in “Unanswered Prayers.” Lyric: "Remember when you’re talkin’ to the man upstairs / That just because He doesn’t answer / doesn’t mean He don’t care" Lesson: God wants us to have faith and trust that His timing is best. And then there’s “The Dance.” That song is an anthem for me about living a life of gratitude. Lyric: "My life is better left to chance / I could have missed the pain / But I’d have had to miss the dance." Lesson: Appreciate what you have while you have it because it won’t always be there. And that’s just three songs! The list goes on and on of tunes that have perpetually changed my life: “Standing Outside the Fire,” “The Change,” “You Move Me,” “How You Ever Gonna Know,” “We Shall Be Free,” “Wolves,” and “The River”—just to name a few of the most important songs to me. The themes are clear: be yourself, pursue your dreams, love people, and make a difference in the world.
Beyond the music is the man. I was influenced through countless interviews and clips I watched or heard. Statements like: ‘the two greatest gifts our parents give us—the people we want to be and the people we don’t want to be’; ‘be yourself, don’t try to be like everyone else—that’s what makes you special’; ‘taking chances is what life is all about’; and ‘you’re not wealthy until you have something money can’t buy,’ have been so important to me. Principles like pricing all the seats in the arena the same so that nobody feels excluded because they had less money; treating people with kindness; doing the small things even when you don’t have to anymore, having integrity, and standing up for people have always stuck with me.
Through all the interviews and all the glimpses I’ve had at a distance, I’ve seen an authentic, passionate, kind, flawed, and utterly human man—someone I could look up to. That’s just the kind of influence I needed as a young person, and it’s just the kind of mentor I seek to be to kids now. Through my non-profit ministry I have the privilege of being inspirational and influential in the lives of children and teenagers, and we’re not strangers to one another like Garth and I remain to this day. I know these kids, and they know me. It’s such an honor, and I credit Garth Brooks’ influence in who I have become. You see, all the encouragement to pursue my dreams, love people, and make a difference led me on a journey down a complex and complicated road that led me to everything I ever could have wanted—purpose, fulfillment, meaningful relationships, and freedom. God used this ordinary guy from Oklahoma with an extraordinary message and passion to inspire me and encourage me along that path. It’s all led to me to enjoy a wonderful life. I have an amazing family. I own my own business and also operate a ministry that helps people find what it is they are looking for through Christian counseling, coaching, and youth mentoring.
I’ve been blessed to see Garth Brooks in concert 3 times already, including the concert at Texas Stadium in 1993. So when it was announced that Garth was finally returning to Lubbock after 25 years, I was surprised to find myself not having any desire to go to the concert. Soon it became clear to me why I didn’t want to go. As I said, I’ve already found everything I could need or want in life, so going to see Garth in concert—for me, right now—just isn’t important. I’d rather spend that time with my family or with one of the awesome kids that I mentor. The truth is that the influence of Garth Brooks, the man and his music, has impacted me in such a positive way that it has helped me to be so satisfied with my life that I don’t even want to go to his concert. I am content. That’s a great feeling, and something I want to share with others.
Oh, I confess—old habits die hard, so I did score two, nice floor seats to the show at 3:00 on Saturday, April 1st because I happened to be near my computer when the tickets went on sale. Now all I want to do is give them away to someone who has never seen Garth or who doesn’t already have the chance to go to one of the Lubbock concerts. So this is what I’m looking for—someone who is a good choice to go in my place. If even one bit of the goodness that exudes from this man and his music affects one or both of the people who end up with my tickets, then that will make me really happy. I would also like to tell Garth about all this. For some reason, I think he would like my story.
As for the music, only those familiar with the songs will know what I’m talking about. It starts with the sentiment behind “If Tomorrow Never Comes.” Lyric: “Tell that someone that you love / just what you’re thinking of /if tomorrow never comes.” Lesson: Tell people that you love how important they are to you while they’re alive and it can bless both of you. It was a HUGE lesson to learn at 13. I’m still trying to do that. Next, it was a matter of faith in “Unanswered Prayers.” Lyric: "Remember when you’re talkin’ to the man upstairs / That just because He doesn’t answer / doesn’t mean He don’t care" Lesson: God wants us to have faith and trust that His timing is best. And then there’s “The Dance.” That song is an anthem for me about living a life of gratitude. Lyric: "My life is better left to chance / I could have missed the pain / But I’d have had to miss the dance." Lesson: Appreciate what you have while you have it because it won’t always be there. And that’s just three songs! The list goes on and on of tunes that have perpetually changed my life: “Standing Outside the Fire,” “The Change,” “You Move Me,” “How You Ever Gonna Know,” “We Shall Be Free,” “Wolves,” and “The River”—just to name a few of the most important songs to me. The themes are clear: be yourself, pursue your dreams, love people, and make a difference in the world.
Beyond the music is the man. I was influenced through countless interviews and clips I watched or heard. Statements like: ‘the two greatest gifts our parents give us—the people we want to be and the people we don’t want to be’; ‘be yourself, don’t try to be like everyone else—that’s what makes you special’; ‘taking chances is what life is all about’; and ‘you’re not wealthy until you have something money can’t buy,’ have been so important to me. Principles like pricing all the seats in the arena the same so that nobody feels excluded because they had less money; treating people with kindness; doing the small things even when you don’t have to anymore, having integrity, and standing up for people have always stuck with me.
Through all the interviews and all the glimpses I’ve had at a distance, I’ve seen an authentic, passionate, kind, flawed, and utterly human man—someone I could look up to. That’s just the kind of influence I needed as a young person, and it’s just the kind of mentor I seek to be to kids now. Through my non-profit ministry I have the privilege of being inspirational and influential in the lives of children and teenagers, and we’re not strangers to one another like Garth and I remain to this day. I know these kids, and they know me. It’s such an honor, and I credit Garth Brooks’ influence in who I have become. You see, all the encouragement to pursue my dreams, love people, and make a difference led me on a journey down a complex and complicated road that led me to everything I ever could have wanted—purpose, fulfillment, meaningful relationships, and freedom. God used this ordinary guy from Oklahoma with an extraordinary message and passion to inspire me and encourage me along that path. It’s all led to me to enjoy a wonderful life. I have an amazing family. I own my own business and also operate a ministry that helps people find what it is they are looking for through Christian counseling, coaching, and youth mentoring.
I’ve been blessed to see Garth Brooks in concert 3 times already, including the concert at Texas Stadium in 1993. So when it was announced that Garth was finally returning to Lubbock after 25 years, I was surprised to find myself not having any desire to go to the concert. Soon it became clear to me why I didn’t want to go. As I said, I’ve already found everything I could need or want in life, so going to see Garth in concert—for me, right now—just isn’t important. I’d rather spend that time with my family or with one of the awesome kids that I mentor. The truth is that the influence of Garth Brooks, the man and his music, has impacted me in such a positive way that it has helped me to be so satisfied with my life that I don’t even want to go to his concert. I am content. That’s a great feeling, and something I want to share with others.
Oh, I confess—old habits die hard, so I did score two, nice floor seats to the show at 3:00 on Saturday, April 1st because I happened to be near my computer when the tickets went on sale. Now all I want to do is give them away to someone who has never seen Garth or who doesn’t already have the chance to go to one of the Lubbock concerts. So this is what I’m looking for—someone who is a good choice to go in my place. If even one bit of the goodness that exudes from this man and his music affects one or both of the people who end up with my tickets, then that will make me really happy. I would also like to tell Garth about all this. For some reason, I think he would like my story.
