Monday, February 13, 2012

Pumped up Kids

Jason:


My favorite song this week may seem a bit odd, but just give it a try because it is so catchy!  I apologize now if it’s one of those songs you can’t get out of your head for a week or so.  Pull some time aside and listen to “Pumped Up Kicks” by the band Foster The People.  I really took a liking to this song while riding in our sweeper truck toward the end of one of our long work days this week.  The time of day and location was a perfect mix for this song on the radio.  It was already dark outside which followed some of the gloomy lyrics, and the lights on the airfield taxiway and parking apron were bright and colorful to go along with the instrumental beats.  I and another guy were just cruising along in the truck at a rapid 3 mph sweeping up any mess we may have made throughout the day.  As we cruised we were jamming to this song, just about blowing the speakers out of the government vehicle!  It was a nice end to a long day in the cool strong desert wind to say the least.

The song talks about a kid who finds a six shooter gun, who basically has it in mind he wants to shoot the gun at some people :(  It’s not known if he wants to shoot in retaliation and anger toward one person, or possibly a group of kids that are giving him a hard time.  The chorus goes, “All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, you better run, better run, out run my gun…faster than my bullet.”  Yes, very crazy and dark I know.  I feel guilty for liking this song, but then again, when haven’t each of us wanted to retaliate against someone for something they have said or done to us?  Some people obviously have a higher form of revenge than others, but the ideas in our heads are the same right?  Basically some person hurt me, so I want to hurt them more!  I have not been struggling with this myself lately, but I know there are a few guys deployed with us that are feeling some of these frustrations towards other guys, but not to the six shooter level!  

Morale of the story, before you go “Punisher” dark superhero on people for revenge and instant self gratification remember what Jesus taught about forgiveness.  We are not so perfect ourselves, so don’t be too hard on those that have wronged against you.  Who knows, one day you may even be the person who better be running with the Reebok pump shoes on!  Try to forgive, and realize the act of forgiveness does not come instantly all the time, but is more of a process in your heart.  Recall Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”  How great is it that if we forgive others that sin against us, then we too will be forgiven by our Heavenly Father of our continued sins!

Enjoy the song, it’s what I have enjoyed all week.

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