Nothing to Prove

OK, so I know I said I might not blog while I'm on the road, but I'm taking that back for tonight ... maybe only for tonight ... but tonight if I don't write about my time today as I traveled, it will keep me awake all night. And I could use some sleep tonight because I sure didn't get much last night for two reasons ... I couldn't get one of the elderly ladies from Bingo off my mind, and I'm kind of a freak when it comes to traveling and it took me forever to get everything checked off of my "do this before I leave" list. Hence, I went to bed at 1:00 a.m. and was wide awake at 5:00 a.m. I'm amazed that I'm not tired or sleepy tonight; Ollie the wiener dog, however, seems to be exhausted ... I guess riding in a doggie car seat for hours tires a wiener out. There I go digressing again ... back to what happened in the car today.

Sometimes I download an album to my iPod because I like one song from the list of songs on the CD. Often, I'll go for months before I actually listen to the other songs ... I know it's crazy, but that's what I do. So today I'm driving down the interstate listening to Casting Crowns when I decided that I should finally listen to the other songs on the Fearless CD by Philips, Craig and Dean. So I did. When Ollie and I got in the car to leave today, I prayed out loud that if God would speak to me on my renegade road trip, I would listen. In fact, I went so far as to use the "p" word ... I promised I would listen to Him. And He spoke through a song I had never heard before. And I listened. And I cried. And I thought about my dad and what he taught me. And I missed him. And God spoke to me through a song I had never heard before. And I listened. 

"You taught me how to ride a bike
Tie my shoes and fly a kite
How to swim and how to fish
To see a star and make a wish
Said it's okay to make mistakes
Just don't get stuck in yesterday
Forgive, forget, and move ahead
'Cause life is what you make of it
Now you're gone, and all I have
Are memories I hold dear
But if I'm quiet, I hear your voice
Still ringing in my ears

Saying live with no excuses
Love with no regrets
Laugh a lot and leave this life
With nothing left unsaid
Make this world a better place
Don't be afraid to cry
And when it's finally time to say goodbye
Nothing to prove
Nothing to lose
Nothing to hide

You said life cannot be measured by
The place you live, the car you drive
The thing that counts the day you die
Is who you are and what's inside
So tell the truth, don't ever lie
Integrity at any price
Your word's your bond, your highest price
So guard it close and live your life
So many things, I learned from you
Bout life and love and play,
But I learned more by how you lived
Than what I heard you say

Live with no excuses and
Love with no regrets
Laugh a lot and leave this life
With nothing left unsaid
Make this world a better place
Don't be afraid to cry
And when it's finally time to say goodbye
There's nothing to prove
Nothing to lose
Nothing to hide

I only want to live my life half as well as you
To leave behind what I received is all I want to do

So I'll live with no excuses and
I'll love with no regrets
I'll laugh a lot, and I'll leave this life
With nothing left unsaid
Make this world a better place
Don't be afraid to cry
And when it's finally time to say goodbye
There's nothing to prove
Nothing to lose
Nothing to hide"