From the Chaplains
On Monday night Taylor Swift wrapped up her Australian leg of the Eras tour. Playing to over 600,000 adoring “Swifities,” Taylor’s presence was marked by joy, the swapping of friendship bracelets and spontaneous acts of kindness between strangers. The “Swift effect” also took on the economy, the National Australia Bank confirming a 33 per cent rise in sales over the weekend in Melbourne (that’s $174 million).
The world seems to be taken by Taylor. But was it always like this? On 10 November 2017, Taylor released an album called Reputation. The pop album features songs like ‘Are you ready for it?’ and ‘Look what you made me do’. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Swift described writing Reputation from the perspective of the character she had been labelled. She was criticised for going on too many dates, her girl squad was accused of modelling a false idea of feminism whom The Daily Telegraph described as “impossibly beautiful women flaunting impossibly perfect lives.” After waves of online attacks, Taylor announced an extended hiatus; she felt “people might need a break” from her.
In other words, whenever she walked into a room, her reputation proceeded her. Her reputation was made up of gossip, criticism and judgement. She carried these words with her, like a prison, these words entrapped her, following her through her days and nights.
This week I asked our students what words they carry with them.
Maybe its words said about you on social media, maybe in the classroom, maybe on the field – maybe even your marks spoke to you – maybe the way someone treated you or ignored you, and you ended up carrying all these words around with you. Whenever you walk in a room, these words follow you. Words that make you feel vulnerable and insecure. Trapped.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus met a woman with words that preceded her. She was also a woman with a reputation. Religious folks gave her many names like ‘sinner’ and ‘unclean’. A woman with a past, imprisoned by these words.
As Jesus watches her weep, her tears and perfume upon his feet, he is moved. He sees her beyond her past, beyond these words. He names her, commends her faith and celebrates her. In doing so, he publicly rips up each name ever said about her and replaces them with new words: seen, heard, understood and celebrated. As she left, she carried these new words with her.
I encouraged the students, saying perhaps this is an opportunity for you, if you want to give something up for Lent. Let go of that voice that makes you feel insignificant, that makes you feel like you are not enough. Whatever your spiritual practice, a good discipline will remind you that you are loved. If there is any bad behaviour or practice you need to work at changing or letting go of, you can practice changing that behaviour, or attitude, without needing to feel small. So rip those imprisoning words up they don’t belong to you, and while you’re at it, rip up all those words spoken about others also.
Cass Blake
College Chaplain