Walking through this life is indeed a journey. Sometimes the journey is adventurous and thrilling. At other times it is heartbreaking, and we feel lost and alone. On the path, we know there will be bends and curves. Some will bring beautiful surprises and others will bring unexpected hardships. We never really know where we are headed.
I have often used the journey image for referencing life. Jesus journeyed with his people. Those adventures took them to hillsides for miraculous lunches, to the sea to witness Jesus walking on the water, to a garden for prayer, and eventually to a cross.
This year my life journey has taken unsuspected and unwanted turns. There has been deep loss. I have felt hurt that at times felt unbearable. Disappointment and grief have marked the way. At times the path has felt dark and lonely, but from within myself, a prayer has risen up.
I often turn to music to soothe myself into prayer. With my Baptist background, the songs that usually form in my head are hymns or choral anthems, but recently I have found myself humming a song written by one of my favorite rock bands, Styx.
The refrain, “show me the way,” has played over and over in my head. This song has become my prayer…my mantra. In my search for meaning, direction, and peace this song has been MY song on the journey.
"Show Me the Way", was written by Styx band member Dennis DeYoung for his son, Matthew. DeYoung was a devout Roman Catholic and described his song as a “pseudo-hymn” written about the struggle of faith in a “world so filled with hatred.”
The refrain, “Lord, show me the way” has been on repeat in my head, and unlike the skipping of a vinyl album, this repetition has been soothing. It has been my plea to God… ”show me the way. Take me tonight to the river and wash my illusions away…give me the strength and courage to believe that I’ll get there someday.”
From an unexpected place, God gave me a song for my journey. I am grateful for the hope and healing that this song has given me. The blessing is that God travels with us and sings to us the song that our heart needs to hear.
Lord Show Me the Way
"Every night I say a prayer in the hope that there's a heaven,
All the heroes and legends I knew as a child have fallen to idols of clay,
And I feel this empty place inside so afraid that I've lost my faith.
Show me the way, show me the way.
Take me tonight to the river
And wash my illusions away.
Show me the way.
And as I slowly drift to sleep, for a moment dreams are sacred.
I close my eyes and know there's peace in a world so filled with hatred
That I wake up each morning and turn on the news to find we've so far to go.
And I keep on hoping for a sign, so afraid that I just won't know.
Show me the way, show me the way
Bring me tonight to the mountain
And take my confusion away,
And show me the way.
And if I see your light, should I believe?
Tell me how will I know.
Show me the way, show me the way.
Take me tonight to the river
And wash my illusions away.
Show me the way, show me the way.
Give me the strength and the courage
To believe that I'll get there someday.
And please show me the way.
Every night I say a prayer
In the hope that there's a heaven."