Forgetting Who You're Not

Ravi Zacharias once referred to popular musicians as "mid-level philosophers."  I never took the time to fathom his deeper reasons for saying that, but from that time forward I began to pay much closer attention to the lyrics of the songs I listened to.  Maybe it's dear old Ravi's fault that I'm here, exploring the power of pop culture.


Right now I'm studying American culture and film at their source - Los Angeles.  It wasn't until I was a full week into the semester that I started to question my approach to life here.  It occurs to me that one of the primary issues for humanity everywhere is identity.  We search for it, we fight over it, and we lie about it.  We all want to know who we are, who or what we belong to, and what we are supposed to do with that information.  Thus, it made perfect human sense that when I arrived here I immediately began pretending that I knew what the hell I was doing.  Unsurprisingly, it didn't work.


I think I came here with the view that I could be and do whatever I wanted, but I have come to realize that as enthusiastically American as that sentiment is, it really isn't true.  Who I am and what I do is not up to me at all - it's a direct result of my past and God's grace.  This semester, like every day before and after, is up to Him.  If I intend to truly be myself, I have to forget about being someone else.  So here's my message for Hollywood...

Hi Hollywood,

I'm a Student Ministry and Culture Studies major from a small college in Western Pennsylvania.  I love to watch movies, but I haven't the slightest clue about cameras, lighting, acting, or professional writing.  I love stories, but I've never written one.  In short, I don't know why I'm here.  The good news is that I no longer care.  I've been listening to 3 Doors Down, and I've decided to live this semester I've been given like it's the only one I've got.

Oh, and the acoustic version is better.