I’m Probably Gonna’ Ruin This Song For You…

Go to any Southern Gospel revival and you will likely in some form or another hear the Gospel praise song, “I Saw the Light.”

Although, this song has been covered by a near innumerable number of artists it originally rang from the lips of country music Hall of Famer, Hank Williams Senior.

But this song was not written in some incredible period of spiritual enlightenment. Rather far from it.

Recently, as Hank Williams and I yodeled alone in my kitchen, I became curious as to where exactly he had received such inspiration for this beautiful song.

I learned this.

Williams, a notorious alcoholic, had this lyrical epiphany while returning from a show in Fort Deposit, Alabama. His mother was driving the sleeping, inebriated Hank Williams and his band back to Montgomery when she spotted the lights of Montgomery airport.

She woke the drunken Hank up and exclaimed, “I just saw the light!” This simple exclamation forms the basis of the song, which later received Scriptural allusions.

This shocking backstory may surprise you, as it did me. But still yet, I found inspiration in it.

As a Christian, we carry a powerful light everywhere we go. You never know what those around you are going to pick up from us in our day to day encounters.

The apostle Paul tells his son in the faith Timothy to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2).

Be faithful to the teaching of the Word and testimony of Christ. We never know what will stick and God will use to raise up a generation of men and women, who like you, have seen the light (John 1:5).

Just point their tired eyes on high.

God bless!