This song is one of the many things that first made me excited to finish in last place in the world's eyes. It is also what made me obsessed with the tattoo design on the left. I must have drawn a few hundred crosses until I came up with that one. One that represented finishing last.
The five lines that make up the cross represent the five body parts that were pierced when Christ was on the cross. If I was going to finish in last place I was going to remind myself of who finished in last first and why.
I think as Christians we so easily focus on how awesome and amazing our God is that we forget what it was like for Jesus. First born out of wedlock, then nothing more than a carpenter's son, and then just a child when he started preaching! Imagine being 12 and telling your adult pastors or priests they had it all wrong...
He lived in the margins and he died next to criminals. This was not a man or God who finished in first place--at least not in the world's eyes. In the world's eyes He was a loser and they gave Him a crown, of thorns...
When you start suffering you're immediately thrown into the gutters of society, into the margins. And it sucks. It's lonely and no one wants you. You're finishing last and they don't want to get dragged down with you. But Christ...well He's been there waiting for us. He suffered just like us. Not just so we won't feel alone, but so He could save us. So He can lift us up every time we get down.
So now, in last place in this rat race everyone else is wasting away trying to win, I smile. I smile knowing I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. With my Lord and Savior.
Is life hard here? Yes.
Do many things drag me down? Yes.
Are there burdens I can't carry on my own? Yes.
Do I get down? Yes.
But He is here to life me up. And so I'm happy to stay in last place. I'm happy wearing my crown. All the time? No. But often enough? Yes. Most definitely yes.
In my darkest moments, He shines through.
When I'm breaking and crying, He comforts me.
When I feel all alone, He carries me.
That's life. It will get you down. And He will lift you up.
We're underdogs baby.
GET DOWN
Lavishly our lives are wasted
Humbleness is left untasted
You can't live your life to please yourself, yeah
That's a tip from my mistakes
Exactly what it doesn't take
To win you've got to come in last place
To live your life you've got to lose it
And all the losers get a crown
[CHORUS:]
I get down and He lifts me up
I get down and He lifts me up
I get down and He lifts me up
I get down
All I need's another day
Where I can't seem to get away
From the many things that drag me down, yeah
I'm sure you've had a day like me
Where nothing seems to set you free
From the burdens you can't carry all alone
In your weakness He is stronger
In Your darkness He shines through
When you're crying He's your comfort
When your all alone, He's carrying you
[CHORUS]
This valley is so deep
I can barely see the sun
I cry out for mercy, Lord
You lift me up again
Amen sister!
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Liz