After the wreck that should have killed him, the man who didn't die spent weeks wondering why. Was there a reason God spared his life? Was there something he was supposed to accomplish? During a painful recovery full of depression, head trauma and questions, Brett Bower found answers in what he never really lost: his faith and his music. Several months later, his comeback has culminated in the release of a CD, "Shadow of the Cross," Bower's original music focusing on the Easter cele-bration. Half of the songs feature the people and themes from the Last Supper to Christ's resurrection, and Bower targeted the album for release this week. "As I kept trying to figure out why I was still here, and I thought about recording this, I thought, 'What if this could minister to somebody?'

Bower has always been musical. He grew up taking piano lessons and has sung and done theater for years. He had written several songs about Easter a few years ago, but never did much except sing them occasionally at church. But about eight months ago, things changed. Bower was headed to his native Tulsa for an acting job when he was in a serious wreck. One city block from his destination, his car was hit by a loaded dump truck on the passenger side, then he was spun around and he hit the truck again, this time head-on. When he later saw his wrecked vehicle, he didn't know how, or why, he emerged from it alive, he said. His injuries weren't life-threatening, but he had some head trauma that affected his memory, and he experienced depression about the incident and the person he became after it. But a month after the wreck, Bower sat back down at the piano, with his arm in a sling and his brain not remembering all he used to play.

"I started playing the piano again, and it became very therapeutic, physically, mentally and emotionally," he said. "I was working my arm, and I was mentally forcing myself to remember things." Bower began singing more of his songs at church, and found the response to be overwhelming and humbling at the same time, he said. One woman from his church enjoyed his music so much that she asked for an audio tape of everything he'd ever sung. Bower told her it would be awhile before he could compile everything, but he did. When she received it, she encouraged him to go to a recording studio and make an album professionally.

Bower liked the idea, but was concerned about the cost and venturing into an unknown area. The more he thought about it, however, the more he found answers to his question of why he survived the wreck. "I kept asking, 'Why do you want me here, God?' Far be it from me to know the will of God, but I wondered if this was it. What if this music can minister to somebody? I had such a positive response from church, but I started thinking about how I could get this out to the public," he said. Bower soon found Cornerstone Recording Company in Oklahoma City, and he began the process of recording his songs. In addition to help from studio engineer Ken Sarkey, he got a little help from his friends. Fellow singers Michelle Thompson, Chris Morrison, and Brandy Gibson are featured on various songs from "Shadow of the Cross."

"There's a soprano solo Brett wrote called "A Mother's Love,'" said Thompson. "It's written from the perspective of Mary just before Jesus' crucifixion. I can't even begin to express how I felt when I heard that song. I can almost understand how Mary felt knowing that her own son was going to die for her sins. All of these songs express something very deep and personal for us." Bower sings lead vocals and plays all the accompaniment on a Yamaha concert grand piano.

He also is featured on several duets, including "The Last Supper" with Morrison. They sing from the perspectives of Christ and Judas who, in an overlapping style of sound, express the betrayal about to take place.

Another song "Messiah's Prayer," is Bower's expression of Christ dying on the cross.

"I began thinking about my fears, and I pictured Christ in the garden of Gethsemane, dealing with the emotion of fear. His willingness to take on the sins of the world makes everything we face in this world seem trivial. It puts things in perspective."

Bower also sings about his faith in"Rest In Me,"which is indicative of his mind set after the wreck.

"I began realizing that God never promised us an easy life ~ that's why we have eternity to look forward to. But He did promise never to leave us or forsake us. I felt like God was speaking to me, telling me to let go of problems and 'rest in me.'"

"Shadow of the Cross" CDs are available for order by calling (405) 732-9661, or e-mailing

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