Embracing Brokenness with the Beatles and my Boy
/Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
I’m part of the Beatles generation. I remember them hitting the US charts at the end of my junior year in high school with heart-grabbing favorites, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves Me, yeh, yeh, yeh . . .” Oh, I was in love . . . along with all the other American teenage girls in those days.
So I thought I knew early Beatles music especially well — that is until last week, when my oldest grandson Kaden plucked out the beginning lines of an early Beatles song “Blackbird.” For the life of me, I couldn’t identify it. But it wasn’t because of Kaden’s playing, but because of the years that have passed. And I just realized that I was in a convent when that one was released (and that’s another story, isn’t it).
But as I explored the lyrics, I realized the metaphor contained some awesome lessons for all of us, young and old alike. So I started to search the Scriptures because I truly believe that all of life is a picture of deeper spiritual realities that we don’t always have eyes to see until God reveals them to us in some way . . . even through a Beatles song.
So here are the lyrics (stanza by stanza), along with some of my thoughts and most importantly, God’s thoughts from His Word.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
I used to think that I had to have my act together (whatever that means) in order for God to love me and use me in the lives of others. But I’ve come to realize that God loves little ole broken me and little ole broken you. He loves to show forth His love and grace in and through us. And in our brokenness He teaches us to “do life” because we can depend on Him to be our Strength.
We are all broken and needy in various ways. You don’t have to try to be perfect no matter what others say or do. God can use your brokenness to teach you how to do your life in Him the Strong One. Trust HIM!
. . . he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT
And we know that God causes everything to work together or the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
Romans 8: 28-30 NLT
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free
I came into the world with the gift of sight. And by God’s grace, you have too. Because of that gift, we learned to see the world around us . . . the external physical world. But this was just surface seeing. Little by little, we learned to see below the surface. We began to perceive emotions, attitudes, beliefs, all going on in the depths of our own souls and those of others. But as we grow in God because of our faith in the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, our eyes can be opened to the Spirit realm within and all around us.
Seeing reality the way God sees it will set you free to be who you truly are and to walk with Him in truth, no matter what others say or do.
. . . For we live by believing and not by seeing . . .
2 Corinthians 5:7 NLT
. . . He [Moses] kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.
Hebrews 11:27 NLT
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.
Hebrew 12:1-3 NLT
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of a dark black night
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of a dark black night
Jesus is my Life and my Light. Is He yours? He says to us, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12 NLT) Why? Because . . .
Jesus, the Light of the World, unfolds the way before you in the darkest of times on this fallen earth. Turn to Him and keep your eyes on Him. You are secure in Him.
Blackbird*
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of a dark black night
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of a dark black night
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul McCartney
Blackbird lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore
For more on the back-story of this song, go to https://you-well.co.uk/blackbird-the-beatles/
