Michael's Vision
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"Bricks From the Ashes" is one of those very rare and special
 songs that are created from a vision - more than a dream.....   

     As I was sleeping one night, a picture suddenly appeared in my
 mind. It was one of those times when you just know you are
 really there. Everything around you is crystal clear. You can smell
 the air, touch the trees, and feel the emotions of the moment.
 You know that this is not merely another dream. 

     I saw a woman standing in front of a large pile of ashes. She
 was dressed in dark clothing and she was wearing a veil that hid
 her face. I could only see her eyes. Her eyes were sad and filled
 with tears. I watched as she knelt down, cupped her hands
 together, and picked up a handful of ashes. She then formed a
 brick out of the ashes. She took the brick and placed it gently
 down next to another brick. She kept repeating this over and
 over. After a while I realized what she was doing.
 She was building a road out of the bricks.

     I looked in the direction that the road was leading and far in the
 distance, rising just beyond the gray horizon, was the most
 beautiful light! It was a pure and peaceful light. I became very
 curious as to who this woman was and what she was trying to do.
 Suddenly, she turned her face toward me, and as her tearful eyes
 met mine, she slowly took the veil from her face. I was shocked to
 see that her face was badly bruised.  As I walked toward her, I
 finally realized who she was. She was someone I loved dearly and
 who had passed away several years before. She was a loving
 aunt who lived upstairs from me when I was growing up.
 She was terribly abused by her husband. 

     As the scene faded from my mind, I began to wake up.
 Immediately, the title "Bricks From the Ashes" and many other
 lyrical and melodic ideas began to fill my mind. I recorded my ideas
 and the next day my wife, Cheryl,  helped me finish the song.

As much as I would love to take credit for writing it, the
 real author of Bricks From the Ashes is the Lord. 
     I truly believe that this song was given to me in this vision for one purpose - to help the many hurting souls who are living in abusive
 relationships. Perhaps, somewhere in this song, they will hear a
 line or a verse that will give them just enough encouragement to
 take that frightful first step toward building a new life, 
not only for themselves, but for those they love.

This is my hope and my prayer,
Michael Berardi
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