Letting Life Count

“Cause we got the fire, fire, fire.” Ellie Goulding is a young English singer/songwriter who is known for her distinct voice amongst today’s pop vocalists. Ellie Goulding’s music does not sound like your run of the mill pop sound. Her music encompasses different styles like indie pop and electronic with a more edgy sound to it. The song “Burn” is one of Ellie Goulding’s most recent and most popular song today and it may be because of the bright message this song portrays.

We live in a society where it’s all about the here and now. The view is to do whatever makes you happy because, after all, we live today but may die tomorrow. Therefore, like the ancient saying goes, “eat, drink, and be merry.” Is this the view we should let control the decisions we make for our lives?  I would argue no, not at all.

Life is what you make it. In this song, Ellie and her friends are happy because they are living one day to the next with no thought of their future in mind.  Ellie sings, “We don't wanna leave, no. We just wanna be right now.” They realize, because given one life, to make it count. This perspective creates a spark in them to let go of worries, have fun, and live carefree.

 Time, because they are young, is on their side but eventually, the candle will burn out. Therefore, there is no time to sleep. There is no time to patiently watch your life as it passes you by. I believe the burning fire is a metaphor for ones individual life. There is a spark in the human race and the one thing that unites us is our pursuit for happiness.

While Ellie Goulding’s song “Burn” is catchy and easy on the ears, I think we need to be careful in not letting her distinguishing message permeate our lives. Yes, I agree, we are only given one life so we should make the most of it. I don’t believe making the most of life is done through partying and living carefree.  This unrealistic view may cause confusion because it is not through these things where one finds true and lasting happiness.  We will ultimately be happier individuals when we stop listening to the shallow lies the world so loudly deceives us into thinking will make us happier.

From a Christian perspective, we can shine bright in a dark world through letting the love of Christ be evident in our lives. So, “let it burn.”