Thrive!

This year at the country music awards Taylor Swift won Entertainer of the Year Award, Female Vocalist of the Year and more.  

At the recent American Music Awards she won artist of the year, favorite female artist in the pop/rock and country categories, favorite adult contemporary artist and more!

Whoohooo! Life rocks for Taylor!

Only a few years ago she was living a middle class life and annoying high school friends. She probably still is annoying some of them, but for many fans, she is their new celebrity.

The transition is startling. Not that long ago, she knew only a few chords and had only a handful of hopeful songs.  At the CMA awards, surrounded by her fans, playing the guitar and singing, the world adored her and sang her love songs with her.

Romeo take me somewhere we can be alone.
I’ll be waiting all there’s left to do is run.
You’ll be the prince and I’ll be the princess.
It’s a love story baby just say yes.

It’s a love story for sure, but there is still a lot left to be negotiated. In real life she doesn’t yet have the ring or the,“Yes.” What happens to Taylor over the next few years will be interesting to watch. I hope she gets loved and keeps singing well.

Which brings up the question: What lasts? Who ends up loved?

One thing is for certain, a humble start is typical for many love stories.  Perhaps there is hope for us on the lower rungs.

Young girls looking for love — history is full of them. Think Mary, the mother of Jesus.

It is hugely significant that when God chose a mother for his son, God didn’t chose a Jewish beauty queen; God didn’t chose a rich, female Roman patrician , God didn’t choose a brilliant Greek woman-scholar. God chose a little thirteen year old servant girl with dark skin and no money from a third world country to carry a baby that would turn the world upside down.

And when he did, Mary got out her guitar and sang her own song.

In the Bible, Luke recorded it, Luke 1:46-47.

Mary sang:

I’m bursting with God news.

I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.

God took one good look at me,

And look what happened —

I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!

Mary made it! Big time! And she clapped inside over the annoucement that God let her, a humble servant,  play a special role in history. She sings over this, and her song is exuberant,  bold, spicy, festive, romantic —  a crazy happiness that she has been chosen as the helper of God.

And she sang well, for the song she sung has become a classic, international, universal winner.

Google “Magnificat.” That is the official name of Mary’s song.  The 2,000-year-old lyrics are still popular!

Conclusions can be drawn.

We want to be loved.

Figuring out our love song matters.

The best, most lastling tune we can sing, is our response to what God does for us.   

P.S.

Check out Psalm 119:76 in the Message version. It’s a prayer.

 Oh, love me – and right now! — hold me tight! Just the way you promised.