welcome to my life

Who knew we're not in this sinking ship alone?

So there's a song out there by Simple Plan called "Welcome to My Life". The lyrics are below. To give a summary of the song, it talks about the rough feelings a person is having and how no one else understands. No one else knows what it's like to be me, to go through the things I go through, to be in the place I am. Funny thing about this song is that if no one understood, it wouldn't have sold many copies – I guess we're all closer together than we think. As you go through this post, the green sections are pulled from the lyrics…just to clarify…

DISCLAIMER – I'm in no way saying I'm on an island and that no one is there for me – I've been EXTREMELY blessed to have an amazing wife and friends I go to on a regular basis to work on my life. But, since I'm human, there are still times when I feel like I'm in this alone and no one could understand me even if I told them – I know, not true…

As I'm listening to this song at work today (Yeah I know, music at work? Crazy.) I had a voice go off inside my head…it simply said, "Yes, I do." So I thought about breaking this down…

The song starts by asking if you ever felt like breaking down, out of place, that you didn't belong and no one understands you. I thought to myself, yup, I've had all those feelings and no one understands – except maybe Jesus – he went through all of that right? Who felt more out of place, or mis-understood than he did??? I'm assuming he doesn't fall into the next set of lines very well simply because he didn't have his own room, and certainly didn't have a radio…but I'm sure he felt like screaming at times…and I guess he actually did. If I'm remembering right, I think he tossed the temple at least once (and I'm sure there was screaming involved in that – Matthew 21:12 ), and I think he shouted at the end of his time on the cross (Matthew 27:45-46). So maybe he understands me there also.

To be hurt, lost, left out in the dark…kicked when your down, feel like you've been pushed around…to be on the edge of breaking down, and no one's there to save you...wow, I'm able to think of times when he must have felt all of this – except for the last one. Who was there to save him? He had the pressure of answering the question for me…he was there to save me. Guess we're still on the same page. Let's keep going.

As you run down the lyrics, I think our paths start to separate a little…I don't think he was stuck inside a world he hated, in fact I think it was the opposite. I believe he loved this world, and all of us that are in it, so much that he paid the ultimate price. More importantly (and I miss this point often) is that he didn't just come to die for our sins – if that was his only goal he could have done that quickly without having to do so many other things first. No, he was here to find out what it was like to walk in our shoes, to have relationships, to teach and help us understand – because he loved us and genuinely wanted to be with us. Is it just me or can you tell when you are hanging out with some one that truly wants to be there with you? Makes all the difference in the world. He was able to see through the fake smiles and stupid lies and see what each person was truly about – and then engage them where they were. How amazing is that?

Yeah, even though this will still remain one of my favorite songs, and one I listen too when I'm down, I won't be able to believe no one understands me anymore…there is at least one who does…and I guess it's up to me to simply tell him, "Welcome to my life."
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Welcome To My Life - by Simple Plan

Vs. 1
Do you ever feel like breaking down?
Do you ever feel out of place?
Like somehow you just don't belong
And no one understands you

Do you ever wanna run away?
Do you lock yourself in your room?
With the radio on turned up so loud
That no one hears you screaming

No you don't know what it's like
When nothing feels alright
You don't know what it's like to be like me

Refrain
To be hurt
To feel lost
To be left out in the dark
To be kicked
When you're down
To feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down
When no one's there to save you
No you don't know what it's like

Welcome to my life

Vs. 2
Do you wanna be somebody else?
Are you sick of feeling so left out?
Are you desperate to find something more
Before your life is over

Are you stuck inside a world you hate?
Are you sick of everyone around?
With the big fake smiles and stupid lies
But deep inside you're bleeding

No you don't know what it's like
When nothing feels alright
You don't know what it's like to be like me

Refrain

No one ever lies straight to your face
And no one ever stabbed you in the back
You might think I'm happy
But I'm not gonna be ok

Everybody always gave you what you wanted
You never had to work it was always there
You don't know what it's like
What it's like

Refrain