At a holiday party this year, I found myself listening as two heroic and humble guys chatted about life and meaning. The guys were my buddy Charlie, a priest who founded Nashville’s @roomintheinn, an organization that serves those who don’t have a home, and John Prine.

It says something about John Prine, I suppose, that he had sought out Charlie because he was a fan of his work, not the other way around. Their mutual self-effacement and respect for each other colored the conversation. They both paused at points to take it all in.

At one point, somebody came up to Charlie and told him that years before he had been homeless and that Charlie had saved him. John was clearly moved by this and said, “It must be gratifying to know that your work has saved people.”

“But your work, your music, has saved countless people’s lives, John,” Charlie replied.

John paused and stared at the floor for a very long moment, really thinking about what Charlie said. There was nothing glib about this. He took it in and mulled it over. “Yes, I think they have, Charlie. I think they have.”

Then they both just sat quietly for a few moments and considered all this. As a witness, I felt the weight of all that this might mean: to save others with your work.

Thankful today for John Prine’s life and witness. He was a man unafraid to laugh and cry with the world, to be quiet and think about it all, and to help us do the same.