"Tie your shoes my dear friend, and press on"

I was re-acquainted with the song this line came from when I found it on iTunes earlier this week. I remember loving it and singing along with it over and over. A very catchy tune with a wonderful inspiring, uplifting message. It popped up on the shuffle on my iPod on my drive home the other day and I heard the whole thing for the first time in years.

It brought to mind some of my friends and family who are going through some tough times and dealing with some hard issues. So this is my prayer for them and for anybody else facing a rough patch -

"I was down in the valley
Of the shadow of death
Where the passion for life
Drained like blood from my chest
And it took more than my will
Just to take a step
When the compass of hope was gone

In a silence so black
That I wished for the blues
Every desperate prayer
Seemed like Heaven refused
And some days I found faith
meant just tyin' my shoes
And it was All I could do
To press on

Press on me amigo
Press on mon ami
Walk on in the face
Of the mystery
Though the night hides the light
Through the darkness still dawn...
Tie your shoes, my dear friend
And press on

On the ocean so lonesome
I was not left alone
Had some heavyweight friends
When my heart was a stone
And they carried my heartache and
Made it their own
When the current of sorrow was strong

(and one said) "I pray your memories
will not drag you down
Not be anchors but treasures
Of the love that you've found"
And His kind words turned hurt
into comfort somehow
And the wind in my sails
To press on

So press on me amigo
Press on mon ami
Walk on in the faceOf the mystery
Though the night hides the light
And the journey is long...
Lean on me, my dear friend
And press on

Though the days seem like years...
There may be giants in our fears...
Ah, but they who are sowin' tears
They shall reap in joy
They shall run and leap for joy!

So press on me amigo
Press on mon ami
Walk on in the face
Of the mystery...(...)
Though the night hides the light
And the journey is long...
Lean on me, my dear friend
And press on

Press on me amigo
Press on mon ami
Walk on in the face
Of the mystery
Though the night hides the light
And the journey is long...
Tie your shoes, my dear friend
And press on!"

Press On by Billy Sprague
from the album The Wind & The Wave, 1993