Speaks to My Soul Series: Naive by Andy Grammar

I had the opportunity to see Andy Grammar live last year, and I took it!

He opened up the night down in the audience singing Naive. I may have cried as I sang along (there’s no proof!)

My heartstrings get pulled each time I hear it.

What do we allow ourselves to be defined by?

Do we allow other negative connotations to keep us from something beautiful?

This song touches on a truth I believe in and have leaned in on at hard and good times in my life: If it’s not okay it’s not over yet.

So call me naive
But I believe you're gonna be okay
And call me naive
But tomorrow, will be better than today

And if not tomorrow, then the day after that. And if not in this life, in the life after this.

I’ve seen this happen too many times in my own life to not believe it. I’ve also seen it in the lives of those around me. And through scriptures and other wonderful stories I’ve read in books and seen in movies like Remember the Titans and Amazing Grace.

And what if some of those people didn’t believe that things will get better? 

Would Coach Boone (Remember the Titans) have been willing to coach an integrated high school football team in Virginia?

Would William Wilberforce (Amazing Grace) have continued his fight for emancipation in England? 

Would Moroni (The Book of Mormon) have had the courage to live alone among people who wanted to kill him because of his beliefs?

Would any Jews been hidden in attics during WWII? 

My plea is the same as Andy Grammar:

And if it's stupid to see the good in everything
Lord, help me please, help me to be naïve

And for much the same reason

See, I believe
This life is something beautiful and sweet

I’ve spent a lot of time doing things that some people call me brave for and others call me crazy for. As one acquaintance told me (while I was traveling alone in Russia), “Well, they [brave/crazy] are two sides of the same coin.” There are always two sides to every coin.

And you could say I'm gullible
And I'm blind to all the lies and tragedies
I just think we focus all our time
On the poison and not the remedy

If we focus on the good, choose to be optimistic in this world we live in, we could all be called gullible and blind to the “reality” of life. But, if tragedy (real as it is) is all we focus on that’s all we will see; we’ll spend our time and energy on the poison and miss a chance to find or implement a remedy. 

I want to see good in the world and the people around me.

I want to acknowledge that there are lies and tragedies and poison in this life, but I want to spend my time and energy finding remedies. Building bridges and relationships with people. To see and build upon the good. To combine forces with those who are seeking to do the same. And if I can’t see them around me, stand alone and do what I feel is right anyway.

Yeah, if it's stupid to see the good in everything
I'll say proudly, I'd rather be naive

I also know, naïve is not the same as weak. There is great power in looking for, finding, sharing and magnifying any good we see in everything and everyone around us.


P.S. If you want to give this song a listen, here's the official video!