R.E.M. released Automatic for the People in 1992 – the same year I started to lead Young Life at Blue Valley. My grandma had just passed away that January, two days before my birthday. My extended family was unraveling as the result of the death of our Matriarch. Nanny (my grandma) had paid for me to go to Young Life camp in 1989. I missed her (and still do) dearly. Secrets in our extended family were being revealed, deep secrets. It sucked. My brother and I were at opposites end of the earth, yet my parents and I grew closer… I was at KU, driving back to KC several times a week to lead Young Life. It was a bizarre time.
It’s true, everyone does hurt. But, hurting makes us better. I’m pretty sure I gave many YL talks with this song as the basis, mostly about sin. I’m thankful for hurting, I know it’s the fabric for who I am today. Life is messy, it’s hard, certainly not easy. Why? I have no idea. But, I know I’m refined as a result.
“…everybody hurts, take comfort in your friends…”
Little did I know that this small line in an incredible song would be a pillar for my life based on relationships, especially now 16 years later.
The incredible video:
The incredible lyrics:
When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
When you’re sure you’ve had enough of this life, well hang on
Don’t let yourself go, ’cause everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimesSometimes everything is wrong. Now it’s time to sing along
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go, (hold on)
When you think you’ve had too much of this life, well hang on‘Cause everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts. Don’t throw your hand. Oh, no. Don’t throw your hand
If you feel like you’re alone, no, no, no, you are not aloneIf you’re on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
When you think you’ve had too much of this life to hang onWell, everybody hurts sometimes,
Everybody cries. And everybody hurts sometimes
And everybody hurts sometimes. So, hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
Everybody hurts. You are not alone
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great idea on this series. i might create my own playlist. i can personally verify that this particular song was played at BVYL at least once. i can think of a few others you played too, but i’ll let you reveal them in your time.
“I’m thankful for hurting, I know it’s the fabric for who I am today. Life is messy, it’s hard, certainly not easy. Why? I have no idea. But, I know I’m refined as a result.”
Well said. Thanks for the reminder. It is challenging to be thankful for the hurt. But you are right about it.
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