Life is Sailing

I never really liked the song “Everything Is Awesome”. I guess I am just too much of a realist. With the bumps and challenges in life, how can one say “everything is awesome” all the time? This doesn’t mean I live with a negative view of life. I am thankful when things go well, but I also expect them not to go well at times. Often it’s when life takes a turn that I don’t like that I grow best and learn most. I am ever grateful that I am not the one in control of my life and that the One who is knows exactly what He is doing, even when I may be disgruntled about a turn in the road I had planned.

So when I found myself watching The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, I loved when the song was changed to “Everything’s Not Awesome”!

"Everything's not awesome
But that doesn't mean that it's hopeless and bleak
Everything's not awesome
But in my heart, I believe (I believe)

We can make things better if we stick together...
Side by side, you and I, we will build it together...
Build it together...
All together now...

Everything's not awesome
Things can't be awesome all of the time
It's an unrealistic expectation
But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try
To make everything awesome
In a less idealistic kind of way
We should maybe aim for not bad
'Cause not bad, well that would be real great..."

As a striver for better, I personally believe we should always aim to do our best. But the perfectionist in me is tempered by what I have come to understand as human limitations. One, we cannot achieve perfection: nothing will be truly “awesome” on this earth. And that’s okay. This is earth, not heaven. Two: we only have a finite amount of time to commit to any one activity. People and priorities pull us away from closing in on perfection… and that’s okay too.

Where the lyrics of this song really ring true to me is in relationships. Close relationships are tricky because of expectations. Misunderstandings are bound to happen, over and over again. Everything will not feel awesome all of the time. We should try to improve and grow our communication and consideration of each other, increasing connection. We can “stick together, side by side… [and] build it together.” Sometimes, just like the song says, aiming for “not bad” could be “real great”.

That said, I am compelled to close with an exhortation to pursue a life of growth and learning, together with others. In so doing we will move beyond “not bad” and toward amazing.