As I was about to go to sleep last night, I heard Randy Travis’s inimitable voice say:
“You go through what you go through to get where you are."*
Now I am a big Randy Travis fan, but I had not heard this song for a long time and could not remember the rest of the words. Furthermore, Randy had a stroke some years ago, has very limited speech now, and hasn't been performing for some years. But still I heard his voice, so I got up and took down what I heard.
Ann: Randy?
Randy: Well, Annie girl, just tryin’ to get your attention. I know you been right busy and kinda crowded in your soul, and I know you been thinkin’ about me, and I really appreciate that because I can hear it when people do that. Seems like there a lot of folks out there that do think about me when something I said in one my songs hits home in their life. It always used to amaze me that so many people were touched by something I said or sang, but then, I been touched myself that way, so in another way I guess I wasn’t that surprised. Just that I could have been a part of something like that.
And that’s what I want to say to you, Annie. You done traveled a long road to be doin’ what you’re doin’ now, and you ain’t got all the time in the world to follow it out, so I want to let you know that that same thing that used to happen to me is happening right now to you - though most of the time you won’t know it, that is, when something you take down touches people. And that don’t matter none. You just keep doin’ it, and it’ll come out right.
That’s where the faith and trust come in. We’re traveling blind, girl, all of us, and when we think we see where we’re goin,’ then that’s when we’re the blindest of all. Everything you done in your life, good, bad, mean, small, or kind and generous has led you to where you are now, and every single thing is a blessing.
Do you hear me, girl? Every single thing. There is no one in your life that wasn’t meant to be there, that wasn’t some kind of angel helping you get to where you are right now. I’m rooting for you, girl, cause you have done seen the light that makes you blind, and that is the best thing that could happen to anybody.
I appreciate your thoughts about what I been through, but I can’t question it - though I sure do miss singing and loving and walking and riding. So let’s you and me and all the folks who get these flashes see if we can’t have us a little family reunion. Cause we’re all family, girl, and don’t you forget it.
March 13, 2020
*Randy Travis, “Right On Time,” from album “Passing Through.” You can hear it on YouTube, “randy travis right on time.”