U2 in concert by Chris Sansenbach
Anyone who has followed me on Twitter for any length of time knows that U2’s song God Part 2 is one of my favorite songs of all time. At least once a week, I quote from it. All of those tweets that end with “I…I believe in love“…come from God Part 2. My favorite is:
“I don’t believe them when they tell me there ain’t no cure. The rich stay healthy, and the sick stay poor. I…I…believe in love.”
Anyone who has worked in public health can identify with that sentiment. Or, well, if you’ve ever been dirt poor, that also gives you reason to identify with it. Since I have been dirt poor, and since I currently work in public health, it speaks to me on both levels. That’s why it’s my favorite verse! The whole song is awesome, though, and just so damned quotable. Nearly every verse follows the same lyrical structure. Line 1 mentions something that the singer doesn’t believe in (“Don’t believe in excess, success is to give“). Line 2 then completely contradicts that belief with an example from the singer’s personal life (Don’t believe in riches, but you should see where I live“). The third line is almost always the same refrain: “I…I…believe in love“.
God Part 2 is all about contradictions, or maybe even hypocrisy. It was written as a tribute to John Lennon’s song, God. God Part 2 addresses the (alleged) hypocrisy of John Lennon, which was brought to light in the biography written by Albert Goldman. I know a *little* something about the history between John Lennon and Albert Goldman, but not enough to really form any coherent, logical opinions one way or the other. So, I’m going to skip all that stuff, and just focus on the song itself, and what it means to me. Perhaps it is about the hypocrisy of John Lennon, or then again, perhaps it is about Bono’s own contradictions. It doesn’t really matter, because I’m using it to talk about my own contradictions. Ultimately, every song that is written is interpreted in a billion different ways by everyone who listens to it, and the only meaning that really matters is the one you make for yourself.
Yes, I contradict myself. Sometimes I say I believe in something, and then I act in a way that is totally contradictory. Sometimes I do or say things that contradict something I’ve said previously. In fact, this happens a lot. What I believe on Tuesday night might not be what I believe on Wednesday morning. But then again, I might believe it again come Saturday afternoon. Some of the things that brought me comfort 5 or 10 years ago are no longer comforting to me. I am always changing, always growing, always evolving. As I grow, I look at the world, the universe, the divine, and even myself in different ways. Each new moment brings a new perspective, a new point of view, a new opinion.
I love animals, yet I eat meat. I believe all religions are equally valid, yet I cringe when someone quotes the bible to me. I love Summer, yet I hate going out when it gets too hot. I hate snow, but I love watching it fall. I feel young, but I’m usually in bed by 8:30. I believe all life is sacred, yet I’m a big believer in the death penalty. I don’t like violence, but I love violent movies, violent video games, and watching violent sports. I don’t like being hit, but I like being spanked. Oh wait. That’s probably something else entirely 
In any case, as I grow to love and accept myself, I’m learning to love my contradictions. I love my contradictions because they help me see that life is not always black and white, and it should never be stagnant.
Challenge your beliefs, your opinions, and your views. Question everything, and challenge everything, especially yourself. That’s the only way to grow. And if you’re not growing, you’re dying.
But with so much change, and so much growth, it’s easy to lose track of yourself. If you’re not careful, you’ll forget who you are. I know, because it happened to me. Not too long ago, I lost myself. I didn’t even know if I was coming or going anymore. I had to take a step back, pull myself together, and dig deep for answers. In the end, I realized that you have to have some core beliefs to guide you along the path…guiding lights so to speak. Without them, it’s just too easy to lose your way.
Love is one of my guiding principles. Divine love, love for myself, and love for my friends and family. No matter what I do or say, no matter how much I change and grow, I will always express love as fully as possible. I think that’s the main reason why I like God part 2 so much: because it focuses on the purity of love in the face of all other considerations. I believe that it is summed up best from this verse, which alludes to an old Bruce Cockburn song:
“I heard a singer on the radio late last night. Said he’s gonna kick the darkness until it bleeds daylight. I…I…believe in love.“
That’s me. I’m gonna keep kicking that darkness (the darkness inside me and out in the world, too) until it bleeds daylight. And I’m gonna keep on believing in love, no matter what other contradictions come and go in my life.
In parting, I want to share this quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, sent to me by my good friend David of Raptitude:
“Speak what you think now in hard words, and tomorrow speak what
tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing
you said today. — `Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.’ –
Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood,
and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and
Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be
great is to be misunderstood.”
Love always,
Jay
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[...] ideas, Author : Yong Mook Kim Website : http://www.mkyong.com — If you liked that, then try God Part 2 – porsidan.com 06/09/2009 U2 in concert by Chris Sansenbach Anyone who has followed me on Twitter [...]
“I believe all religions are equally valid, yet I cringe when someone quotes the bible to me. I love Summer, yet I hate going out when it gets too hot. I hate snow, but I love watching it fall. I feel young, but I’m usually in bed by 8:30.” I totally agree with all of these things. It’s okay sometimes to be contradictory. I think most of us are in some ways…Really great post. I’ve never heard that U2 song before but I’m going to listen to it right now!
Positively Present’s last blog post..trust me: to be happy you need to trust
Hi Jay,
That quote really changed the way I feel about myself. I used to feel like I had to defend and rationalize every single thing I had ever said; that I was every thing I ever said or thought. But obviously our words and thoughts change; we don’t own them, and they are not us.
Whenever I feel like I’ve been brash or presumptuous, or I’ve contradicted myself, I think of that quote and remember that we’re all human and nobody is 100% consistent and objective.
David Cain’s last blog post..And My Destination Is…
I love it!!!! Standing ovation!! Beautiful on so many levels. I have always been a bundle of contradictions… a flip-flopper, a fence-rider, I could go either way on just about anything. But there’s a beauty in that, isn’t there? Being able to shift perspectives and appreciate different sides.
The quote about being misunderstood (STRIVING to be misunderstood) is priceless. Oh, and I love this part too:
“That’s me. I’m gonna keep kicking that darkness (the darkness inside me and out in the world, too) until it bleeds daylight. And I’m gonna keep on believing in love, no matter what other contradictions come and go in my life.”
I’m with YOU, kid!
Lisis | Quest For Balance´s last blog ..Personal Development is a Prisoner’s Dilemma
Not ever having been exposed to U2’s music, when I saw your title my first reaction was, how did I miss his post on God Part 1?
Your post reminded me of another Lennon line – “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”
Jay,
Re “I love animals, yet I eat meat. I believe all religions are equally valid, yet I cringe when someone quotes the bible to me.”: it’s odd how I have been rolling those two things around in my head and heart lately.
In fact, I have two posts I’ve started that address each.
I think, for me, it’s when someone quotes the Bible to me in a judging way that really burns me. Yet, when I open the Bible myself, I find places of comfort and wisdom that go unnoticed if I filter it through the negative glasses of how people have used its essential messages for their own gain.
Re loving animals and still eating meat: I can understand this contradiction. I love a good steak, charbroiled halibut, etc., etc. For me, at this point in my life, I take the same approach I understand Native Americans did (do?): honor the animal that was sacrificed to nourish me. But, maybe I hold onto that contradiction because I a) I am not yet convinced our bodies do not benefit from meat protein or b) one look at a Discovery Channel shows animals eating animals, so is it wrong for me to do so? Isn’t it part of the “Circle of Life” or c) I’m not yet ready to give meat up … or d) ?.
I could write multiple blog posts off the ideas you explore here. Your candor and transparency are deeply and appreciated and done got this Libra thinking!
Thank you, Jay,
-Chris
Mr. Nuggets´s last blog ..My Son, My Hero
@Dani – Yes, everyone has ways in which they are contradictory. A lot of people will deny it, but deep down, nobody lives in 100% congruence with their beliefs all the time.
@David – Thanks again for sending that quote to me. It really helped me put things in perspective, and helped me form the coherent thoughts that became this post. I couldn’t have done it without you!
@Lisis – Ahh, my friend. With you on my side, together we are unstoppable! I’m glad you liked the post
@Dot – LOL, I can see where you’d think that
I started to make the post title longer for that very reason, but then I just thought I’d run with it! I love the Lennon quote you used. Hypocrite or not, we could all stand to be a little more like John.
@Chris – I think you’re right: there IS a lot of comfort to be found in the bible. It’s all just been used against me and against the ones I love too many times at this point, and I have a hard time sifting through the chaff to get to the wheat
And with the eating meat, yes, the Native Americans still eat a lot of meat in their diet, even more so than most white people. My ex-wife (and by extension, my daughter) are Cherokee, and we’ve spent a LOT of time with the tribe. Like you (and like me), they honor the spirit of the animal, and thank it for it’s sacrifice. It reminds me of the old joke: Vegetarian = An ancient Native American word that means “bad hunter”. 
Jay, fantastic article in so many ways. Thanks for sharing it. I love that quote. I’ve never heard it before.
It takes a lot of courage to write so openly, but I think that is what attracts people to you and your blog. People are looking for something real in a phony world.
Stephen - Rat Race Trap´s last blog ..Hold Your Goals Loosely
Now then, where do I start? Death penalty? Eating meat? Or maybe just tell you that I really resonate with this post. I’m often amused, sometimes shocked at the contradictions I find in myself. Every time I explore one and remove the contradiction, another one pops up. I wonder if they’re just there to test our resolve or our convictions.
Meat eating is a great example because, as you know I stopped at the start of the year. Before that I’d been living with the contradiction for all my life. All I can say is that I feel much better without the contradiction, and of course others come in to take its place.
Ian | Quantum Learning´s last blog ..Life: powerful and fragile
Hi Jay,
Reading your post made me aware that people struggle with their contradictions. I never knew that because to me it is kind of obvious that none of us are perfect. We all have our contradictions and if we are aware of them, then that is awesome in my mind. Thank you for helping me to see something that I never saw.
By the way, advocating love as you do is the best “religion” there is, my friend. Hope all is well!
Nadia - Happy Lotus´s last blog ..Quack, Quack, Quack
@Stephen – Thanks.
I love that quote, too. I had never heard it before, either, until David sent it to me. I think a lot of us are thanking him for that one!
@Ian – Ha! I put that bit in about the eating meat just for you, my friend! I’m glad this post resonated with you. In truth, I think everyone has their own contradictions, it’s just that nobody wants to admit to them.
@Nadia – Indeed, love *is* the best religion. So many of the world’s difficulties could be resolved if people just realized that…