I saw the light

Superman and I were heading back home Friday night after eating dinner with some friends, and David Crowder was blaring in my car. We both were singing pretty loud because we're pretty loud people anyway, and then the song "I saw the light" came on.

Truthfully, I didn't realize that song was even on my iPod. I get stuck on certain songs that I listen to over and over and over like a broken record. I'm sure it gets annoying for those who ride with me. But hearing David Crowder sing those lyrics and to hear my husband singing them as well brought back some wonderful memories from just a decade ago.

Most everybody (RL friends included) will probably find it surprising that I used to sing. I say "used to" because I'm not overly talented. BY. ANY. MEANS. I might can carry a tune every now and then, but it's not something amazing. But, growing up in a small town, singing half-way well brings about opportunities. One of them was the Friday Singings.

On various Friday (and maybe Saturday, I can't really remember) nights when most of my classmates were running the roads and driving around Sonic (even then it didn't seem cool), I was most likely in church. And I was most likely the youngest person IN said church.

There were two churches I sang at on a regular basis -- one on the outskirts of town and the other that my grandfather went to. Usually at the first one, I was not the youngest one (there was a kid about 10 who beat me in the youth category). There'd be about 20 people at the church and all of them -- with just a few exceptions -- would sing one, two, or maybe even three songs.

But what I remember the most was the pastor -- Bro. Butler, I believe, was his name. The man was at least in his 80s, but he was one of the most talented musicians I'd ever met. His wife would sing, and he would -- I kid you not -- play the guitar and the harmonica at the same time. He had some crazy device he'd strap over his shoulders, which would place the harmonica right at his mouth. He halfway joked that when he went to college, he used to play the drums with his feet, too, and was a one man band. He must have had "talented toes" like me...but that's another story for another time.

The other church was smaller in size and in the attendance (usually), but my cousin (who is a wonderful singer) and I would go there and sing (separately -- I did not want to sing with her because she is too good, haha!). About five men with guitars and fiddles would sit behind us when we sang and, even if we had a tape playing, they'd play with the music, too. For me, who is easily distracted anyway, it usually made me jump, but I always felt supported when I sang.

At the end of the night, after everyone had sung, the men at the front would start playing old hymns -- including "I saw the light." And I just remember that as being so beautiful, so joyful, so exciting. People were clapping, tapping their feet -- it was a great experience.

You know, being a teenager at the time, I wasn't always thrilled about going and hanging out with folks 60 years my senior, but now, I am so glad I did. I wouldn't give up those experiences for anything.

I saw the light, I saw the light,
No more darkness, no more night.
Now I'm so happy, no sorrow in sight!
Praise the Lord, I saw the light!