The backstory: Prayer for Joe
April 25, 2025
Prayer for Joe is the second 2025 release from Ludlow Creek. Written by Josie Awards “Song of the Year” winner Dave Benson, the story behind the song was truly life changing. Here is the full backstory:
It was near 1:00 a.m. on that fateful night in Macon, Georgia in March 2023. Dave, Allen, and their wives, Mary and Michelle, were headed back to lodging after spending the evening enjoying Macon’s historic downtown district during the height of that year’s Cherry Blossom Festival. They drove slowly along on the unlit road to the patter of rain on the windshield and sound of thunder rolling in the distance as severe storms approached, when suddenly, and seemingly from thin air, a man appeared on the side of the road. In the beams of the headlights, they could see he was an older man. His eyes were wide, his arms were flailing, and he was yelling unintelligibly. They veered sharply to ensure clear distance as they passed the man and made their way to their quarters just a short distance ahead. As they exited the vehicle, they could still hear the man yelling, and in a few short moments, he appeared in the distance, walking toward them, continuing to yell and continuing his animated motioning. It was a startling moment. Modern-day wisdom teaches us to avoid unpredictable situations, especially when in unfamiliar places. The inevitable moment of fear occurs and is often the impetus to move us away from any perceived danger. In the few minutes that followed, however, Dave and Allen were compelled to face their fear and approach the man, primarily to make sure he was ok and to offer a helping hand if he needed aid.
As the ladies proceeded inside, Dave and Allen met the man in the street near the base of the driveway of the home at which they were staying. His name was Joe, specifically “Homeless Joe”, as he would exclaim as they approached, and repeatedly over the course of the 10 minutes they spent with him. He was a man of 70 or so, with a white beard and knit cap, and his well-worn clothing was a size or two larger than a man of his build would require. His skin was weathered, his voice raspy, and he carried a few random items… a bag, a skateboard, an empty fuel can. Dave and Allen introduced themselves and the three exchanged handshakes. As they told Joe they were visiting from Dayton, his eyes brightened. It was a place he knew, and he began to talk, quickly and excitedly, to the point that most of what he said was indiscernible. Nonetheless, it was a small but common thread that led to Joe asking Dave and Allen to pray with him. There they stood, in the street, with the light rain falling, hands joined. Joe spoke softly and deliberately this time, thanking God for the blessing of meeting Dave and Allen that night, and asking that He watch over them and their wives during their time in Macon and in their travels home. After a chorus of amens, there were smiles and hugs exchanged before Joe went on his way, exclaiming a final time, “I’m Homeless Joe!” As Dave and Allen made their way up the drive to the house, Joe’s loud rambling could still be heard as they watched him fade into the darkness.
Once inside, Dave and Allen recanted what had transpired to Mary and Michelle. They talked about how it was an epiphainein moment… a moment that lay somewhere between sadness and hope for humanity. A moment that illustrates just how fine the line probably is between those who are blessed to travel and live lavishly, and being Macon’s Homeless Joe… or any town’s Homeless Joe, for that matter… a moment that teaches us that money and possessions aren’t the real measures of decency, and that as different as we might think we are from one-another, we’re all more similar than perhaps we choose to believe. When it all comes down, we’re all just people.
Dave, Allen, Mary, and Michelle then toasted to Homeless Joe. His memory stayed with them for the remainder of their trip and forever lives on in the hearts of the Ludlow Creek family, and in the inspired, ‘Prayer For Joe’.