When I first reflected on Pink's hit song "Perfect," I talked about how it would be when we stand before The Perfect, our Precious Beloved to Whom we shall all return. As I have listened to the song again and again, this passage continues to strike a deep chord with me:
You’re so mean
When you talk
About yourself
You are wrong
Change the voices
In your head
Make them like you
Instead
"Change the voices/In your head/Make them like you/Instead." Very powerful words, because - as we all know - those "voices in your head" can be particularly harsh and vicious. They can be much worse than the myriad of voices from without that relentlessly criticize us. Yet, why should we "change the voices" in our head that attack us so incessantly?
Because we have a God that loves us.
How can you listen to "the voices/In your head" when the Lord our God declares His love for you? How can you heed the voices who attack you incessantly when our Precious Beloved says that you are special? How can you believe "the voices in your head" when His Voice says, "I love you"?
Whatever "the voices in your head" say: "you're too fat," "you're not good enough," "you're too ugly," "you're not smart enough," "you're pathetic"...it should never matter when The One tells you, "I love you." And in that Love, we should all rejoice.
That should go even more when it comes to the other voices - those outside of your head - who don't like you. Whatever those voices say, you should say: "Who cares! I have a God that loves me." Who cares what the voices of all those other people say about you, because your God, your Lord, your Sustainer loves you. And in that Love, we should all rejoice.
Knowing and living the fact that we have a God - a truly awesome God - who loves us gives us tremendous strength, power, and dignity. We can always walk with our head up high - not in arrogance - but in the calming truth that the One On High loves us. The power of that love is palpable to all...which is possibly the reason that some may lash out with their voices in hatred. But that should never matter to us, because we know that God loves us.
"Change the voices/in your head/make them like you/instead." It is exactly like Pink says in the next part of the song:
So complicated, look how big you'll make it
Filled with so much hatred, such a tired game
It's enough, I've done all I can think
I've chased down all my demons, see you do the same
It is truly, "such a tired game." Stop hating yourself; stop listening to "the voices in your head" and "make them like you instead." That is because you have a God - a truly awesome God - who loves you. And in that Love, we should all rejoice.
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
o'stephanie
Kerry Lauerman
Joan Walsh
Salon.com
Comments