Eye On The Prize

So, back in 1993 📖⏳, after reading Proverbs 17:24 (GNT), I wrote a narrative poem titled “Eye On The Prize” 🕊️🎶 — a tongue-in-cheek, acoustic country-style poem ✨🎵 about how people often live foolishly, but if you stay focused, God can help you succeed 🙏✨.
“An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions.” — Proverbs 17:24 (GNT) 📖
🗣️ Personal Note
Not a strong singer 🎼😅, in 2024 I used AI tools 🤖📱 to bring the poem to life with music and vocals. I also made a biblical, scientific, and mathematical breakdown 📜🔬📖 💥📘. My vocals may rival Roseanne Barr’s anthem 🇺🇸😬, but I hope the message, heart, and humor shine ✨❤️🙏.
Biblical Breakdown of the Song (Proverbs 17:24, GNT)
Title Insight:
• Billy Joe represents the fool in Proverbs 17:24. He is easily distracted, chasing fleeting things like chickens 🐔 and pots of gold 💰, symbolizing wandering eyes and a lack of focus on wisdom.
• Betty Sue embodies the discerning person. She remains focused on wisdom 📖, aligning her life with scripture and avoiding worldly distractions.
• Chorus emphasizes the core message: keeping "eyes on the prize" 🎯 (wisdom) and staying on the right path, unlike Billy Joe’s aimless wandering.

Verse Breakdown
Verses 1 & 2:
• These verses introduce Billy Joe, representing the fool in Proverbs 17:24. His mind is “like a compass lost in space” 🧭✨—constantly wandering, searching for meaning but never finding true wisdom. He chases fleeting distractions, like chickens 🐔 and shadows 🌫️, lacking focus or direction.
• Betty Sue is the discerning person. Her steady hand ✋ and commitment to reading scripture 📖 reflect her focus on wisdom. Proverbs 17:24 anchors her, keeping her on the right path 🛤️ while Billy Joe gets lost in distractions. Betty’s clarity mirrors the Bible’s call to keep wisdom always in view.
Verses 3 & 4:
• Betty Sue’s wisdom shines clearly 🌟. She knows wisdom is always within reach, not in material things like shiny objects ✨ or Billy Joe’s wild rodeos 🤠. Her steadfast focus shows the discerning person’s ability to keep wisdom close, consistent with Proverbs 17:24.
• Billy Joe continues to struggle, chasing truth in all the wrong places—through material pursuits 💎 or misguided advice from “new-fangled gurus” 🧙‍♂️. This reinforces his role as the fool, whose wandering eyes prevent him from seeing the treasure of wisdom already at hand.

Chorus Breakdown
• The chorus serves as the song’s central theme, echoing Proverbs 17:24. “Eyes on the prize” 🎯 symbolizes staying focused on wisdom.
• “Not off the road” 🚧 highlights the importance of avoiding life’s distractions and temptations.
• Betty Sue keeps it simple 🌅, like “Sunday morning light,” reflecting the peace and clarity that come from focusing on wisdom.
• In contrast, Billy Joe is “spinning donuts on a Saturday night” 🍩💨—chaotic, unproductive, and directionless. His constant motion contrasts with Betty’s steady pursuit of wisdom, showing the folly of wandering eyes.

Bridge (Hypothetical)
• A bridge could provide a reflective moment ✨: showing consequences of Billy Joe’s wandering versus the reward of Betty Sue’s focused pursuit of wisdom.
• It might illustrate how wisdom leads to peace 🕊️ and fulfillment, while distractions bring confusion and frustration 😵‍💫.
• This would reinforce the contrast between the discerning and the foolish, as outlined in Proverbs 17:24.

Overall Connection to Proverbs 17:24
• The song illustrates the difference between a life guided by wisdom 🛤️ versus a life of distraction and folly 🌪️.
• Betty Sue embodies the discerning person who “keeps wisdom in view”, aligning her life with biblical principles.
• Billy Joe represents the fool, whose wandering eyes prevent him from finding wisdom that is already available.
• Each part of the song reflects the truth of Proverbs 17:24: wisdom brings clarity, peace 🕊️, and direction, while distractions lead to chaos and aimlessness.