God and Beyonce Are...

Not the same person, if that's what you thought I was going to say. No, although I'm sure God has just as much soul as B does. What God and Beyonce have in common today is that they're both trying to tell me the same thing: "You're better off now than you were then, so don't sweat it, and keep your head up." It seems funny for sure that I would hear God's voice in Beyonce's music, but don't we always say that He works in mysterious ways? Besides, I like to think that this is God staying young at heart, if you will.

Today saw the first round of WYD updates, and they were not easy at all. I'm glad to see that my friends are all having fun, and I'm ecstatic to hear that they're growing in faith and grace on this pilgrimage, but that doesn't mean I don't wish I was there with them. Unfortunately, as is my tendency, I dwelt on the feelings I got from realizing that I could really have been one of them, and it's left a predictably sour taste in my mouth. Though I have to say, the pictures of our chaplain in tourist sandals did make me giggle.

I've also been thinking lately about my reversion to the faith, which happened a year ago yesterday, and two days after I broke up with my boyfriend of almost six months. It's funny that a year later, I couldn't find much to say about the reversion, but I could speak volumes about the break up. I guess it's a testament to how long I can hold onto pain, but also how much I still need to heal. This is where Beyonce comes in.

I've been a fan of Beyonce for a few years now, and part of what I like so much about her music is the fact that she's not afraid to acknowledge heartbreak, but also that she's also willing to say she's better off without whoever broke her heart. I originally noticed this with the release of "Irreplaceable", but currently her better-off-without-you single is "Best Thing I Never Had". The song is about loving someone who was a jerk, but once you're with someone better, being thankful that you ended it when you did. Replace a guy with sin/Satan, and the song applies to me rather neatly, though it does work in its original format for my ex.

That's where God and Beyonce are trying to tell me the same thing. God is saying that it's okay that I don't have long-winded speeches to give on the anniversary of my reversion, because I'm trying my best to break it off with sin and Satan, and letting them know they're the best thing I never had (and vice versa), and Beyonce is just reminding me that yes, I do still have a lot to say about the break up, but I should let it go, because I'm better off now than I was then. God is also reminding me that I wouldn't have given a flying fart in space about WYD a year ago, and so perhaps I should be thankful for the faith He's given me which has made me even care whether or not I'm going.

I have to say, I have a couple of pretty cool role models in God and Beyonce. One is creator and sustainer of everything, all powerful, all knowing, but also all good and all loving. The other is a strong, ambitious, talented woman with a beautiful voice. Both of them are trying to remind me that I'm fine right now. Yes there will be pain, it's a part of life, but I have to keep it in perspective. Today's pain is a result of much greater joys than I have ever known, and pain never has to defeat me as long as I keep my head up and follow the right path. So today, as always, God and Beyonce are awesome and pretty freaking cool (respectively).