"life common"?

For a variety of reasons, I have been a little off lately and today just pushed me right over the edge. I picked up a copy of my school’s newspaper on the way into work this morning and, upon reading it, my face got all scrunched up—you know the look, like I had just smelled something really nasty… ‘cause, for all intents and purposes, I had. It was so, so… for lack of a better word… college. Ew, gross.

As of late, I have felt a little bit lonely, a little bit different, and a little bit sad about it. I know this funk will leave me just as quickly as it has come upon me and gratitude will replace that sadness once more, but, for right now, this is where I am at.

There is a song—“Life Uncommon” (by Jewel, who else?)—that I have LOVED for years, but I have always wondered, perhaps naively, why the life she describes has to be “uncommon.” And, you know, maybe it doesn’t have to be, but it does seem to be, doesn’t it? ...

Don’t worry, Mother, it’ll be alright,

And don’t worry, Sister, say your prayers, and sleep tight.

It’ll be fine, Lover of mine, it’ll be just fine,

Chorus:

And lend your voices only to sounds of freedom,

No longer lend your strength to that which you wish to be free from,

Fill lives with love and bravery,

And you shall lead a life uncommon.

I’ve heard your anguish; I’ve heard your hearts cry out:

“We are tired, we are weary, but we aren’t worn out.”

Set down your chains ‘til only faith remains, set down your chains,

Chorus

There are plenty of people who pray for peace,

But if praying were enough it would have come to be.

Let your words enslave no one,

And the heavens will hush themselves to hear

Our voices ring out clear with sounds of freedom, with sounds of freedom.

Come on, you unbelievers, move out of the way;

There is a new army coming and we armed with faith.

To live, we must give to live.

Chorus x 2

At times like this, when I am slightly downtrodden, and maybe a tad less hopeful than I normally am, I try to imagine what our world would look like if this were a “Life Common.” I am unsure of the details, but I am sure of the beauty.