1984 - This song was inspired by a dream I had which is summarized in verse 2 of THE REGIONS BEYOND. A surfing accident I had at Huntington cliffs in 1981 also played heavily into this one along with the scripture James 1:6 “…for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.”
The truth in this verse was a stark picture of my young life up to the point of my salvation in 1980. The idea for this song stewed within me for a long time. The story line contained within it spans a number of years beginning in 1979 when I left Maine on the Eastern shore and didn’t stop heading west till I reached the Western shore. That was “as far as wheels would take me”. Then the story resolves with my salvation in 1984, drawing the contrast of being tossed about by every whim of the day with being led by the solid rock of the Word of God and my relationship with Jesus. Lyrically it is quite short and to the point. But when I started working on it I had very little idea where it would all end up. It feels like the song was just waiting for me to get saved!
DRIVEN BY THE WIND
Words & music by Reggie Michaud © 1984 (ref: James 1:6)
Driving down the road as far as wheels will take me; running away
Leave my fear behind and all those broken feelings; so I say
Where to go what to do when I get there
How to live who to love; tell me why
Simple questions no one ever seems to answer
Seek them till you die…
I was driven by the wind. Beaten down by ocean waves
Held my hand up, raised my voice unto the Lord
Washed up on the shore…
Jesus carried me away into His shelter from the storm
Gave me love and taught me how to care for others; He opened my heart
Looking back I wonder how I made it all those years
Behind a wall with a chain around my neck
Praise the Lord I’m a free and new creation
But I still remember when; remember when…
I was driven by the wind. Beaten down by ocean waves
Held my hand up, raised my voice unto the Lord
Washed up on the shore…
I was driven by the wind. Beaten down by ocean waves
Held my hand up, raised my voice unto the Lord
Washed up on the shore…