WHERE I’M GOIN’

Livin’ in between with one foot out the door
Goin’ where I’ve never gone before
Grateful for the past and thankful for right now
Lord, I know that there is so much more

A few years ago, I left on a roadtrip heading south toward my hometown of Poplarville, Mississippi. The grief was still fresh from the death of my parents just the year before. And now I was on my way to attend the funeral of Mr. D.O., the father of one of my closest friends.

As the scenery outside the car windows flew past, memories flooded my mind. There’d been phone conversations with my friend over the past seven months that she and her two sisters gave round the clock care to their dad. And there was the more than forty years of knowing and loving their entire precious family. The tears freely flowed.

Sayin’ my goodbyes to everyone I know
Lookin’ forward to all those hellos
Holdin’ on to hands on this side of the veil
Knowin’ soon that I will have to go

I thought about what my friend’s dad may have been thinking about during his final months surrounded by His loved ones; all the memories shared of good times and hard times… the laughter, the love, the tears.

But I also thought about something else. Mr. D.O. was 92 years old when the Lord took him home to heaven. And I knew that he had many people waiting for him there, even longing to be with him once again. In his quieter moments, had he perhaps been thinking of them too, even looking forward to seeing them again soon?

As I drove on, I wondered about what might be happening in heaven at that very moment; I imagined a reunion beyond description, a rejoicing beyond compare. And I began to smile through my tears.

By the time I arrived at the hotel that evening, I could hardly wait to get into my room where I began to pen the words to this song, “Where I’m Goin’”.

Where I’m goin’ is beyond imagining
Where I’m goin’ I know there’s a place for me
Where I’m goin’ I am loved and I am known
Where I’m goin’ I’m goin’ home
Where I’m goin’ I’m goin’ home