Do you ever hear a song on the radio that immediately causes you to pull over, sit, reflect, and sing with every breath you have? This happened to me twice in one day with the same song. 'Lead Me' by a band named Sanctus Real forced tears down my cheek on the side of Highway 70.
The song starts off by giving a background of one's life; Beautiful wife, wonderful children, in essence, perfect in every way, on the outside at least. He then begins to explain how he can hear the internal cries of his family, calling on him to lead them to peace and happiness. He gives two perspectives on his own life and family: The inside and the outside---
---Leading a family is almost every man's dream, but also their biggest fear. The joy of leading someone into a life of love is the most humbling experience found on earth, but the fact that you may lead them away from what is right can alter a man's self-worth. Now granted, I'm only 18 years of age, but growing up in a home where independence was taught early in my life has opened my eyes to what is right and fair.
This song hits home with me because of the simple fact that a future family scares me, and I'm sure many men can relate. I don't want to lead my family away from what I know is right, but I don't want to be so over-bearing that it pressures my family into being perfect. Even now, as a recent high school graduate, I can see bits and pieces of my father in my actions and words, and that alone brings fear. Fear of not being able to control who I am and who sees it.
--"I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes,
They're just children from the outside"--
He can see the innocence in a child's heart, which is one of the truest forms of love you can find, but in this next line, it's not what he wants to see.
--"But on the inside, I can hear them saying...
Lead me with strong hands, Stand up when I can't"--
He knows that his children desperately need him in their lives, and from the beginning of the song, I get the sense that he is unsure of his abilities. He can't do it alone with his earthly desires, but someone else can...
--"So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I'm called to be
Oh, Father, show me the way
To lead them
Won't You lead me?"--
He calls on God to help him lead his family towards His love, but the interesting part of this line is how he asks God not only to help him lead, but also lead him as well.
Man cannot successfully lead anyone without first being led themselves. This gives me hope that, even though I come from a broken background, I still have someone guiding me and showing me love that I can then pass on to others. It gives me the strength to say that what I have been through is not who I am, but rather what built me, and I pray everyday to continue to be built into a man worthy of leading a family into love...His love. God helps me to be a man, not only built on love, but a man who's heart never stops.
My heart will forever be on the side of Highway 70 listening to a radio, tears falling, and the tender whisper of God coming through the speakers.
