no looking back

Solitary drives are a curious thing. On the one hand, I might dread hours alone on the road. Will I fall asleep? What if I have a flat tire: could I change it myself? And ... the silliest of all, what if I'm accosted in a rest area? I let go of such fears by the time I had four children in tow. Really now, who in their right mind would attack a woman with four loud, bickering children?

Last Sunday I drove solo for nearly seven hours, home from Nashville, Tennessee after visiting my dad. I'd planned to come home Monday, but another impending snowstorm brought me home a day early.

So I had lots of time to think, to reflect on conversations with my dad. A song played on a CD and I repeated it over and over again. It became a worshipful time and, I believe, God speaking to my heart and spirit.

Create in me a clean heart, O God

And renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence, O Lord.

Take not your Holy Spirit from me.

restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and renew a right spirit within me.

As I sang

(I sing long and loud while driving alone)

and drove

and glanced in the rearview mirror,

the day saying its farewell,

I was reminded to let go of yesterdays

living today with trust grace

and look ahead, only ahead.