This is the almost-annual update and reprint of a blog that was
first published 7/21/11.
For a lot of reasons I do not stay up-to-date on the pop music
scene and only occasionally listen to pop radio stations. I prefer gospel
music, talk radio (when in the mood), light jazz (when I can find it), and
sometimes I’m a little bit country (I grew up in Texas, what can I say?) and
sometimes a little bit rock and roll.
However, even though pop music is not a #1 priority with me,
because it often permeates society (clips of popular songs often show up in
commercials and at ball games, etc.) I learn about songs I otherwise would not
know about.
One such song is Firework sung by Katy
Perry. Even though it first hit the charts in 2010, I finally paid
attention to it a year or so later at Stadium of Fire in Provo,
Utah. (That is kind of an appropriate place for a firework song to show up
since "Stadium of Fire" is one of the biggest stadium fireworks show
in the country, if not the world.) Appropriately, that year a clip of the song
was played during the fireworks display.
Eventually my naturally curious mind went into full gear and I
decided I needed to learn more about the song Firework. That
led me to YouTube for the actual Firework music video by Katy
Perry.
That was an interesting experience. I will admit that it is
a fun, energetic song that appears to have a positive message. However, I
shut the video off before it even finished because it endorsed homosexual behavior,
“parties,” and immodesty.
What “Firework” Taught Me
I eventually learned two things from the song Firework.
The first came when I compared it to a document published by my church
called For the Strength
of Youth. Here we read:
While much entertainment is good, some of it can lead you away
from righteous living. Offensive material is often found in web sites,
concerts, movies, music, videocassettes, DVDs, books, magazines, pictures, and
other media. Satan uses such entertainment to deceive you by making what is
wrong and evil look normal and exciting. It can mislead you into thinking that
everyone is doing things that are wrong.
Do not attend, view, or participate in entertainment that is
vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in
entertainment that in any way presents immorality or violent behavior as
acceptable.
While the words of the song Firework are not,
on their own, immoral or deceptive, the music video was full of
deception. It was clearly making what is wrong and evil look normal,
exciting, and good (see Isaiah 5:20).
I, therefore, without fully knowing it at the time, took the advice of For
the Strength of Youth—I stopped watching it.
Are we Fireworks?
But then I got to thinking
about the message of the song—that we are "fireworks." The idea that each of us has a spark of light within us
and that we should let that light shine “across the sky.” On the surface, that
seems like a fantastic message. However, after a while the philosopher
in me kicked in. This led me to my second lesson.
Think about a firework for just a moment. How long does
that light shine? Hours? Minutes? Seconds? Yes, fireworks are exciting and
powerful and colorful (and I love fireworks).
But fireworks are also short-lived. Even the most beautiful
firework fizzles out in just seconds. The light created by a firework will
not even last a full minute. And, in order to keep the excitement
going once the light from one firework fizzles out, another must be fired
and then another and then another. Usually, the best fireworks
shows last about 30 minutes, go through a few hundred fireworks, and
then they are over. The light is gone.
Fireworks are exciting and colorful, yes. But they are also
temporary.
Is that what our Heavenly Father wants for us, really? Temporary
light? To be a burst of excitement and then we are over?
I believe the answer to that question is resounding
“No.” Heavenly Father wants much more for us—much, much more. He
wants permanent light. He wants sunshine.
…Or are We Sunbeams?
That is when the words to a Christian children’s
hymn came to my mind:
These words may seem trite or even childish next to an exciting
song by Katy Perry, but think about it just for a moment.
Sunshine. What are its characteristics? It is
warm. It is life-giving and life-sustaining. Most importantly, it is
more permanent than a firework—much more permanent. In fact,
according to scientists, our sun has been in existence for about 4.57 billion years.
The sun is also more powerful than a firework. In fact,
there is no question that the sun is the most powerful force in our solar
system.
We also know that even the stars are actually suns from other
solar systems whose light has reached our planet after many light-years of
travel. Imagine the power of a sun that emits a light that lasts
24,000-26,000 years—the distance our solar system is from the
center of the Milky Way galaxy. And that is just our galaxy—there are a
multitude of other galaxies beyond the Milky Way!
Does all of this give a deeper, broader meaning to the phrase,
“Jesus wants me for a sunbeam?” I say “Yes!” We can be suns! We can be
a true light in the lives of everyone around us. We can warm their
lives. We can give them lasting life. All we have to
do to be this kind of light is be obedient to God’s commandments.
Truth, Obedience, and the Holy Spirit
As the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints also taught in For the Strength
of Youth:
Because the Lord loves you, He has given you commandments and
the words of prophets to guide you on your journey. Some of the most important
guidelines for your life are found in this pamphlet. We testify that these
principles are true.
We promise that as you keep these standards and live by the
truths in the scriptures, you will be able to do your life’s work with greater
wisdom and skill and bear trials with greater courage. You will have the
help of the Holy Ghost. You will feel good about yourself and will be a
positive influence in the lives of others. You will be worthy to go to the
temple to receive holy ordinances. These blessings and many more can be yours
(emphasis added).
I truly believe our Father in Heaven wants us to be more than
fireworks, which are exciting for a few seconds, but then disappear. Our
Father in Heaven wants us to be sunbeams—real, powerful, lasting, life-giving
sunbeams. And to have this permanent light in our life, all we need to do
is follow Him.
Happy 4th of July everyone! Let
true freedom ring!!
Acknowledgement: A special
thanks goes to my friend Valerie Dimick who’s
lecture on the subject of “sun” versus “light bulbs” helped to inspire this
message.
No comments:
Post a Comment