This Friday’s Song is Bless the Broken Road. It tells how the journey through relationship heartbreak and disappointment was an important series of lessons along the broken road to finding one’s true love. The song was was written by Marcus Hummon, Bobby Boyd, and Jeff Hanna in 1994. It was first recorded by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1994. The version I have in my music collection is the one by Rascal Flats that was released in November 2004. It won the Grammy Award for best country song in 2006. That’s the one I chase to share today.
2004 to 2006 was one of the most difficult periods of my life. I was in the middle of a very contentious divorce with serious child custody disagreements. My ex-wife had moved to the Florida Keys with my five year old son when we seperated in late 2003. I was still working in Boston and doing a couple of trips a month to Florida to have time with him. I couldn’t see how I would travel that ‘broken road’ to find love and happiness again. I remember playing this song pretty frequently and not believing it could ever be true for me.
Turns out, God did have a plan. I just needed to focus on what was truly import and what I could control. I finally got the divorce finalized with full joint custody of my son. I started dating again and worked on bringing down the walls I had erected to keep from getting hurt anymore. The software company I was working for in Boston was acquired. This gave me the opportunity to relocate to the Keys so I could have my son with me most of the time. It took a bit, but one night in late 2008, I had a first date with the woman who was waiting for me at the end of that ‘broken road’.
Ten years ago today, I married my ‘meant to be’. Thank you, my darling Teresa, for being who you are and for waiting for me at the end of that broken road.
I think about the years I spent just passing through
I’d like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You’ve been there you understand
It’s all part of a grander plan that is coming true
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
And others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know it’s true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
Bless the Broken Road — Mummond, Boyd, Hannah