Having church in my car with Tim McGraw…

I ventured up to my dad’s family compound out in the boonies beautiful farm land of Northern Kentucky over the 4th of July holiday weekend. It was a quick, but always joyful trip with lots of laughter, hugs, horseshoes, a game called “cornhole,” fireworks, and food…oh, the food…my cousin Dave is the King of the Crack & Cheese. There is none better on this Earth. I can only try to imitate his mastery of the dish…but I bow to his greatness.

Yesterday, I was on my way home listening to one of my favorite CDs by Tim McGraw and reflecting on the weekend, my family, what has transpired over the years, where I am in my life…what I am and where I want to be. I’ve gotta say that I surprised myself at how overcome with emotion I became while listening to the song I post below in particular.

I also was thinking about a conversation I was having with a friend the other night, and how we both related to the idea that sometimes in one breath we can pray and in the next thought doubt if God is even real. Then today, I received an e-mail from an old friend who has gone through a terrible time of depression, anger, despair, and feeling rejected by everybody he loved. It’s taken over a decade of pressing through, but he’s making it to a place of peace with the world and himself and his God.

He’s going to make it. So am I. So are you.

Whatever frustrations and setbacks you are dealing with, remember that you are not alone — and thanks to my family, my friends, and even though sometimes it falters, my faith — I’m so glad that neither am I.

This is for the nobody
The one in the crowd who’s got a
lost look on his face
This is for the downtrodden
The one that the world’s forgotten
Waitin’ on a better day
Well, I’m in no position to judge ‘em
Heaven knows they’re just like me
And I’m not alone
In knowing what it’s like
To wonder where you’re going in this crazy life
And I’m not alone, knowing how it feels
To pray to God and sometimes wonder if He’s real
‘Cause I’ve got friends that do
Yeah I’ve got friends that do

This is for the lost junkie
Who spends all his hard-earned money on somethin’ that he hates
And this is for the found guilty
Who ain’t gettin’ out until he pays his debt to the state
And I’m in no position to judge ‘em
Well heaven knows it could have been me
And I may not know what it’s like
To lose your job ’cause a habit’s got you gripped too tight
And I may not know how it feels
To lay your head down on a prison bed in a world of steel
But I’ve got friends that do
Yeah, I’ve got friends that do

This is for yours truly
Just a little verse to remind me
We all got somewhere to turn
And I may not know what it’s like
To send my only Son to save the world and watch Him die
And I may not know how it feels
To hang there on the cross to prove that love is real
But I’ve got friends that do
Yeah I’ve got friends that do
Yeah I’ve got friends that do
You know we’ve all got friends that do

You can listen to it here:

*Words & Music by Brett Warren, Brett Beavers, Tim McGraw, Brad Warren