For ten years of my twenty-six year teaching career, I commuted almost fifty miles each day. Those of you who endure the same or worse understand that it is: 1) boring, 2) a waste of time, and 3) FRUSTRATING!
The roadways are filled with thoughtless, rude drivers who can raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels if you’re not careful.
One day, after yet another encounter with a dreadful driver, I started to sing, “To God Be the Glory”—an old hymn that is still a favorite of many.
But somehow my mind took a wild turn and I veered into new lyrics that fit my situation–and my mood:
“To God be the glory in spite of the jerks who travel the turnpike and drive me berserk!”
It made me chuckle. The tension in my shoulders began to relax.
M-m-m, I thought. I may be on to something.
For the next several weeks I spent my commuting time working thoughts into rhymes and rhymes into the rhythm of the old hymn.
Here are the results:
The South Florida Commuter Song
Verse 1
To God be the glory in spite of the jerks
Who travel the Turnpike and drive me berserk!
I’ll focus on Jesus and all of His works,
Improving my attitude and calming my nerves.
Praise the Lord for the trees, and the birds on the wing!
Praise the Lord for the clouds, and this song I can sing!
I’ll thank Him for His promises and victories won,
And for taking frustration and making it fun!
Verse 2
I’ll pray for the poor bloke who speeds out of sight.
He’s clueless I’ll see him at an upcoming light.
I’ll pray for his safety, since he’s unconcerned,
And hope in the process some patience I learn!
Praise the Lord for the sun as it spangles the sky.
Praise the Lord for the ponds, and the mist on the rise.
I’ll thank Him for creation, its beauty sublime.
Renouncing frustration, His peace I shall find.
Verse 3
And when drivers speed by then squeeze in ahead,
Replace my frustration with your grace instead.
Remind me they don’t know you, they’re striving alone.
I pray they may seek You, and make You their own.
Praise you, Lord! I am Yours, and You’re always with me.
Help me lean, and be serene, even when folks are mean.
I pray for Your Spirit to take full control
As over the highways and byways I roll.
Verse 4
There’s one more group of drivers that I must address.
They pull out in front of me, then drive like Aunt Bess!
They poke along slowly, yet still make the light,
But then the light turns red—I’M stuck! What a fright . . .
. . . How upset I can get when others drive thoughtlessly!
But I have heard from Your Word how You want me to be:
As loving and forgiving as You are to me.
So when others drive like Aunt Bess, I’ll say, “God bless!”
© Nancy Ruegg 2008
Are you smiling? I hope so! And perhaps you’ll be inspired to turn a frustration in your life into an attitude-changing song. If you do (or already have), please share it with us in the Comment section below!
(Revised and reblogged from 1/7/2013 while we prepare for houseguests.)
Photo credits: http://www.commons.wikimedia.org (Ildar Sagdejev); http://www.flickr.com; http://www.pxhere.com; http://www.flickr.com (Pam Link).
You definitely give us a stellar example of how we can all turn lemons into lemonade, Nancy. I love your song!!! I do love to take popular songs and make them God-praising ones, and have done so in the past with Christmas classics like ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ and ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.’ Maybe I’ll share them in one of my blogs when we are nearer to the Christmas season. So glad to know, too, that you write and sing when the going gets tough – literally.
Blessings!
Yes, do post them at Christmastime, Martha! 😃🎶
I certainly will, Nancy! Thanks so much for your affirmation and faith in me.
You are most welcome, my friend!
I agree with Annie–you must share with us your God-praising lyrics for those popular Christians tunes! So glad you enjoyed this parody, Martha. It was fun to create!
I’m grinning ear to ear. You are incredibly adept at writing verses! But what’s so amazing is the truth you speak of in these modern verses. You see a way to follow the Lord despite the horrors of crazy drivers with a changed mindset and focus on the hope of Jesus. I really love how you think.
So do I! 😊👍
Thank you Annie!
Thank you Dayle for your kind words. God has used these lyrics time and again to calm me down in traffic! 😆
🙂☺️🙂 Drive on in song Nancy
Thank you, Fred. I will try to do that! 😁
Love it, Nancy! I like rewriting lyrics, too. It’s therapeutic, isn’t it?
Also, the concept of praying for the people you encounter, – good idea! I got lost once, and as I tried to find my way around an unfamiliar part of town, I prayed for the kids I saw playing, the person walking a dog, the guy mowing his lawn, etc. I told myself I was meant to get “lost,” because those people needed prayer. At least that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it! 😉
I have an 8-hour road trip coming up (and it’ll be 8 hours back, too.😕) and I’ve armed myself with prayer, worship CDs, and at least one audiobook! (You knew I’d have to get in a plug for audiobooks, didn’t you? 😏)
Have a blessed summer!
Thank you, Annie. I love your reaction to getting lost–praying for the people along the way. You must be great at multi-tasking–to make your way in unfamiliar territory AND pray at the same time! As for your 8-hour road trip: may the time fly (though not your car!) as you fill your spirit with so much goodness!
You’re too kind, Nancy. Thank you. ❤️
How fun! We all have areas of frustrations even if it is not commuting. To turn them around with Godly humor is such a great idea. Or just fill the time with praise hymns! Enjoy your company, Nancy!
Thank you Linda. We’re looking forward to this time with old friends that we’ve known since 1982!
Nancy – this is outstanding! You know I didn’t read it, but sang it instead – in its entirety ❣️❣️❣️
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Debbie! You must not have been at choir practice the night we sang this–during F.C.’s era. He provided a great flourish of an introduction, and the choir had no idea what they were about to sing. Great fun!
Now this is poetry I can relate to-having experienced death-defying drivers often enough! The third verse is my favorite, but they’re all clever and amusing. Great job, Nancy! 🙂
Thank you, Nancy–so glad you found amusement here!
Smiling for sure. Thanks for sharing.
You’re most welcome, Ruth. So glad to give you a smile!
Am smiling for sure, Nancy. Love how you took what could consume you with frustration and made it a lot better.
Thank you, Manu. I need to make up a few new parodies for other frustrating circumstances!
Love it!
I’m so glad you did, Barbara!
I”m smiling. Guess you were applying Paul’s instructions to “in all things give thanks.” Not “for” all things, but “in” all things.
Absolutely, Barb! I was just thinking this morning as I completed some unfavorite tasks, it’s all about training the mind to think on all things excellent and praiseworthy and thanking God for them. (I’m still in training!)
How fun! I love this! ❤️ And, it did make me laugh!! ❤️
So glad to give you a chuckle, dear friend!
Love it Nancy! One of the biggest adjustments to returning to work is the commute. I love how this modified song is filled with prayers for the other drivers.
Thank you, Beth! Prayer does change things–including attitudes!
There may be no better test of patience and forgiveness than in the presence of fellow drivers. It’s all I can do to not let their poor driving habits affect my own. But I think you’re on to something here, Nancy. Singing makes just about any situation better. So even though it’s hard to be sincere with, “I’ll pray for his safety, since he’s unconcerned…” or to put up with Aunt Bess-y dawdlers, singing them out of your system is certainly more Christian than road rage!
Thanks, Dave. You’re so right–sometimes the sincerity just isn’t there as we begin to sing or pray, but most often we find it blossoming as we persevere. I love your summary of verse 4: Aunt Bess-y dawdlers! That put a smile on MY face!
you make me laugh!! this is wonderful. We wrote awful and somewhat shade song in nursing schools such as How do you solve a problem like Maria but said, instead of Maria, sang diarrhea. certainly was creative. 50 miles??? wow. what dedication! I love your creativity!
Thank you, Jean–what a delight for me to make you laugh! And thank you also for sharing a tidbit of one of your nursing songs. Great fun! 😁
I definitely have a smile on my face after reading this. What a great way to lessen the stress as you faced this long commute! I truly enjoyed your revised rendition of a beloved old hymn.
Thank you, Cheri–so glad to give you a smile!
😊😊 Refined on the road!
Indeed! Thank you, RH!
You are far more creative than I ever was, all the years I commuted. But I did learn to pray while stuck in traffic. That made the delays far more bearable. ❤
Good for you, Anna. I love your heart for prayer!
You go, girl!!!! This is just too fun. And wise.
Thank you Linda!
Oh Nancy, kudos for you for turning your frustration into a clever song! While I never wrote my own songs driving to and from work back when I was a teacher, I could not get through the day without listening to Christian radio before and after the work day. It was water in the desert for me and truly the only thing that got me through the day back then!
Maybe you can record this so people can enjoy it on the radio one day. Hey, you never know, right?
Thank you, Stacey. I too found blessing while listening to Christian radio during the commute, until the speakers started to sound fuzzy and then I drove in silence. But found the quiet ministered to my spirit also. This song probably wouldn’t have surfaced if I’d had the radio on!