Jesus Took My Wheel
I was born to multi-task. So I thought nothing of turning a working trip to Nashville into a rescue-my-new-dog trip as well. As long as I was going home anyway, I thought I might as well take the dog with me. But since it was too cold too fly [with a dog], I rented a car and thought I'd just drive north out of Nashville on Wednesday morning (Jan. 28). But Mother Nature, that bitch, had other plans.
What should've been about a seven-hour trip took almost 11 hours. A grueling, treacherous, white-knuckled 11 hours, I might add. I couldn't take a hand off the steering wheel or my eyes off the road for even a second. No chatting away on the cell phone. No scrolling through iTunes. No pushing buttons on the nice XM radio in the rental car. Just me, icy roads, fallen trees and the chorus of Carrie Underwood's debut country song "Jesus, Take the Wheel." Those words -- about taking it from my hands because I can't do this on my own -- were all that kept me going. (Every once in a while, though, the lyrics from Brooks & Dunn's "Cowgirls Don't Cry" and Dierks Bentley's "What Was I Thinkin'" popped into my head.)
After having Underwood's song stuck in my head for seven hours, the roads finally started to clear. And not to get all holy, but I would swear on a stack of Bibles that the minute I saw dry roads I also saw a 200-foot cross by the side of I-57 in Effingham, Ill. Say what you will, but that was all the proof I needed that God works in mysterious ways. Good mysterious ways. Because it all worked out. Jesus took my wheel, and Carrie Underwood sang me home.
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Gary says:
I bet that’s the first time your hands were at 10 and 2 since passing driver’s ed! Glad you made it ok.
Steve says:
Oh Alison what a great blog, the best Ive read in a longg time.
Glad you made it there safetly
alison says:
First of all, you have the same name as me. We even spell it the same way. Second of all, I was just gonna ask a question without even reading the blog. Then the blog caught my eye. I’m glad you made it also!!! I do agree God does work in mysterious ways!! That is really neat you experienced that, I don’t want anything bad to happen to me but I wish I would experience something like that!! My question though is….. for the last two months I can’t get my video to play. I get the screen but no controls to play the video. Again, glad you made it!!!!!!
Melissa says:
That’s a really good story Alison :) I thankfully have never had to drive in such conditions yet! Yesssss.
Twangtown7 says:
When I drive to Nashville every year (from Milwaukee area), I do it in the spring, thank God. ;)
mia says:
wow- glad to hear that you made it ok. im from Canada, so i know how bad winter can get. also, Carrie’s my favorite ever. ‘Jesus, Take The Wheel’ is an amazing song & is sung beautifully <3
Twangtown7 says:
Not to get off subject. But somebody wanna tell me why the Jonas Brothers played at the Ryman a few weeks ago??! How ridiculous!! Porter Wagoner is probably rolling over in his grave!
Chris N. says:
I once made the same drive in the same kind of weather, and as I recall listened to the audiobook of George Carlin’s ‘When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?’ for most of the way. So that’s kind of similar.
KAREN K says:
A very moving story and glad that you made it through! That song “Jesus, Take The Wheel” and Carrie Underwood’s beautiful voice has done so many amazing things for so many people! I am one of those people who had been suffering with a horrible addiction and the song “Jesus, Take The Wheel” and Carrie Underwood have shown me that there is another way to live my life! And that if I turn my life over to him that he will show me the way until I can do it for myself! I have been free of my addiction for two years now and the power that the song has is amazing!
Rita says:
The story was great and so glad you got home safe. Carrie is awesome and her song is very moving. Thanks for such a positive blog too~
Tiffany says:
What a nice blog! I love that song by Carrie! So glad it helped during your trip home!
Linda says:
Great story, thanks, Allison. I feel for ya!
Tenn says:
I have seen Jesus Take the Wheel scrawled in the road salt and dirt of winter across the back of big trucks on the interstate - imagine living on the road in winter - Glad you made it home safely, Alison
Ms. Feathers says:
Alison, I usually enjoy your blogs, and I’m glad you’re home safe, but there’s absolutely no need to use curse words. I’m sure you realize this public blog could be seen by children. I’m sure you can find more creative ways of expressing yourself in the future.
hotelmotel says:
Ms. Feathers suggests that Alison use more creative ways of expression than curse words. Thats odd, to me, since some of the most colorful and creative language out there involves curse words.
Speaking of curse words, the town name “Effingham” is pretty creative. I’m sure the kids in that town get a kick out of living in a place whose name is basically a curse word, and a particularly foul one, too!
Gay Spivey says:
Sounds like a white knuckler! AND you rescued a homeless dog! great story, great trip. Your new dog will love its new home. I am a firm believer that everything happen for a reason.
sharon says:
I love all Carrie underwood songs shes an awesome singer Love Love Love all of her songs.Sharon
Emily_T says:
Great Blog glad you made it home ok . Carrie Underwood has help so many people with her singing and lyrics. She has touched so many lives and I will always be thankful to her for that .
MUCH LOVE TO CARRIE UNDERWOOD
MiaT says:
Thank God you are home safe & sound! Nothing like a country song to get you through the tough times in life. It really makes you understand that song. Great job Alison!
miranda says:
well if you feel that way maybe you should get a bible and find a church to attend. i sont think it is right to use the b word in the same story as the lords name. seriously.. why would you do that
Mikel says:
Yup, that’ll do it. You have my apepcritaion.