Holiness is what I long for

Mountain Railroad or Highway June 3, 2007

What is life like?

If you are over 50, then life is probably like a “mountain railroad” and you will hear the old country gospel song playing in your mind.

If you are under 30, then likely you will say that life is a “highway” and you want to ride it all night long and you will hear a song by Rascal Flatts playing in your mind.

If you are somewhere in between… Well, I don’t know what you hear.

I have become very interested in reading a fellow blogger lately. His name is Trey and he posted last week about life as a highway and it got me to thinking. If you would like to read his original post, then follow this link. I think he took the highway analogy and did a fantastic job with it. I highly recommend you check him out.

I have an uncle that claims that there is sufficient theology in the old song that you can find salvation if you follow the words in the lyrics. I am not sure about that. But I think there is more to that song about the mountain railway than there is to the highway. Especially if your highway is like Rascal Flatts describes it.

Now don’t get riled up with me. I actually like Rascal Flatts. I think they are an outstanding group. So don’t pound me with email and responses about Rascal Flatts! But do you know the lyrics to that song? If not, I will include them for you. How about the old country gospel song? Do you know the lyrics to that one? If not, I will include them for you as well.

Read through the lyrics. Read Trey Morgan’s post and then respond back with any of your thoughts about these two analogies of life.

Life is a Highway by Tom Cochrane

Life’s like a road that you travel on
When there’s one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend and sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your head to the wind
There’s a world outside ev’ry darkened door
Where blues won’t haunt you anymore
Where brave are free and lovers soar
Come ride with me to the distant shore
We won’t hesitate
Break down the garden’s gate
There’s not much time left today

Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long
If you’re going my way
I wanna drive it all night long

Through all these cities and all these towns
It’s in my blood and it’s all around
I love you now like I loved you then
This is the road and these are the hands
From Mozambique to those Memphis nights
The Khyber Pass to Vancouver’s lights

Knock me down get back up again
You’re in my blood
I’m not a lonely man
There’s no load I can’t hold
Road so rough this I know
I’ll be there when the light comes in
Just tell ’em we’re survivors

Gimme gimme gimme gimme yeah
If you’re going my way
I wanna drive it all night long
There was a distance between you and I
A misunderstanding once
But now we look in the eye

There ain’t no load that I can’t hold
Road so rough this I know
I’ll be there when the light comes in
Just tell ’em we’re survivors

Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long
If you’re going my way
I wanna drive it all night long

and

Life is Like a Mountain Railroad by Eliza R. Snow and M.E. Abbey

Life is like a mountain railroad, with an engineer that’s brave;
We must make the run successful, from the cradle to the grave;
Watch the curves, the hills, the tunnels; never falter, never fail;
Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

Bless’d Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.

You will roll up grades of trial; you will cross the bridge of strife;
See that Christ is your Conductor on this lightning train of life;
Always mindful of obstruction, do your duty, never fail;
Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

Bless’d Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.

You will often find obstructions; look for storms of wind and rain;
On a hill, or curve, or trestle, they will almost ditch your train;
Put your trust alone in Jesus; never falter, never fail;
Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

Bless’d Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.

As you roll across the trestle, spanning Jordan’s swelling tide,
You behold the Union Depot into which your train will glide;
There you’ll meet the Superintendent, God the Father, God the Son,
With extended hand He’ll great us, “Weary pilgrim, welcome home!”

Bless’d Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.