day 3K212: On Top!

“The Beatitudes”

When you are on top of whatever list or scoreboard, it is great.  Taylor Swift must be feeling that way this week as “she became the first artist in history to have all 10 of the top slots on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. The tracks are from her new album, Midnights.” Imagine being any musician who works their whole life to make any chart looking at this and thinking, “Wow”.  Or, they might be thinking, “I will never make it, so what’s the point?”.  The journey to the top, if we ever get there, is a long one.  Taylor Swift has been honing and perfecting her craft for over 20 years now. What’s also important to remember is that this type of fame is fleeting.  Bono, from U2, talks about it in his new book and what it means to accept that he and the band may never get back to the top of the charts.  And, for him, that’s okay.

Possibly, there is no set of verses more so than the Beatitudes that should ground us in the understanding that it is not about the lists, the charts, the scorecards, etc. when it comes to how God puts it all in His perspective.  They tell it like it really is:

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble,
    for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
    for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
    for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace,
    for they will be called the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.  Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.”

Reference: Matthew 5:3-11 (New Living Translation)

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