In My Mind, I’m Going to Carolina

I remember so many years ago, sitting in our living room with my first husband, Bob. We were newlyweds, and we had bought an old farmhouse out in the country, in Stillwater, NY. We loved drinking beer together while singing along with Jim Croce, Harry Chapin, and many more great singer-storytellers. We knew every word by heart. We would sing along in complete bliss (and drunkenness). One of our favorites was “In My Mind, I’m Going to Carolina” by James Taylor. As I sang that song, it always made me think about one day moving to the Carolinas ... and I would dream about a new life there; it was a dream that I never actually thought would come true.

Now, 25 years later, I am living that dream in the small town of Lincolnton, North Carolina. My husband, Craig, leaves the radio on in our garage 24/7. Just the other morning I stepped out there and I heard that old, familiar tune and it stopped me in my tracks. I just stood there in the garage, singing and remembering. I thought about my first husband, Bob, and how our life together was now nothing more than “photographs and memories”. Twenty-five years flew by and here I was … now actually in the Carolinas. It was no longer only “in my mind!”

James Taylor wrote this song about his own life and how he was homesick, missing his hometown of Chapel Hill, NC. For me, it had a slightly different meaning. It meant one day I'd move to NC, though I certainly do get homesick myself at times as well. Waterford, NY will always be a part of me.

God often gives us a foreshadowing of what’s to come. He does this throughout the Bible, with the greatest example being the many prophecies of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. God knows the beginning and the end, so it makes sense that He would sprinkle our lives with thoughts and little clues as to what’s up ahead. He’s done it for me all my life. Looking back, I can see His hand was always there, sometimes in small, inconspicuous ways. I realize more than ever that He is doing the same in my life today. Staying in tune, even with those seemingly small things, and looking with that hopeful anticipation that the Bible speaks about, all make for a wonderful, adventurous life.

Think about this … God has us all right where He wants us. We are in a particular place right now for a purpose. Throughout the day, take time to stop and listen. As you are hustling through the grocery store, in line at the bank, out at a restaurant or at church, stop for a moment and take a good, hard look around you. Our lives are busy and it’s so easy to become absorbed in our own lives and miss out on those special moments and special people God has put near us. But even more importantly, we are often too busy to hear God’s still, small voice. God can give us grand visions for the future, but He can also give us small, intricate details for our day-to-day life.

This journey of life brings us through many sun-filled days, but it also shakes us to the core as we face raging storms head-on.

Now, whenever I hear that old song by James Taylor, I think about how faithful God is. I remember where I was 25 years ago and all that He has brought me through to get to where I am today. This journey of life brings us through many sun-filled days, but it also shakes us to the core as we face raging storms head-on. When we feel stuck in a particular place or season, we can trust that things will change yet again. We must always remember that a wonderful heritage is being crafted day by day, prayer by prayer; and one day can be looked back upon with thankfulness to God.

So, now it’s time for us to go on another new adventure. It’s early in the morning, and a new day is dawning with new opportunities. Where will God take you today? Who will He place around you in the public square? Who will you speak with today? What will God speak to you? It’s all there, waiting for us to grab hold of it. Tune into the song God places in your mind and heart today and every day.

God will soon call His children to their heavenly home. What a glorious day that will be! My new song parody is “In My Mind, I’m Going to See My Savior.” But until that day, let’s stay in tune with the voice of our Father as He rejoices over us with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV): “The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Ms. Lady Lake