Everclear – Wonderful

I have to say that I was clearly distracted this morning at church, but that all changed as we moved into the baptism part of the service. Many of the first to be baptized were children and then the adults. There were two baptisms that brought tears to my eyes. The first one was a middle school girl whose parents had recently divorced.

The second person that caught my attention was a man who had just begun to recognize what was really important in his life when his wife told him that she was filing for divorce.

My heart broke so much for these two people who were coming from two different situations, but both being washed by the redeeming waters of the baptismal. I know from personal experience how hard a divorce can be, but I also know that while one chapter in their life is "ruined," the story of their life is not over. I came to realize this several years ago when I realized that my circumstances didn’t dictate who I was going to be and that the saving power of Jesus can give new life.

As I think about divorce, one of the songs that has resonated with me over the years is Wonderful by Everclear. It’s a great song that speaks to the pain that divorce causes. What this song fails to do is show that life does go on and that things do get better.

Wonderful
Everclear

I close my eyes when I get too sad
I think thoughts that I know are bad
Close my eyes and I count to ten
Hope it’s over when I open them

I want the things that I had before
Like a Star Wars poster on my bedroom door
I wish I could count to ten
Make everything be wonderful again

Hope my mom and I hope my dad
Will figure out why they get so mad
Hear them scream, I hear them fight
They say bad words that make me wanna cry

Close my eyes when I go to bed
And I dream of angels who make me smile
I feel better when I hear them say
Everything will be wonderful someday

Promises mean everything when you’re little
And the world’s so big
I just don’t understand how
You can smile with all those tears in your eyes
Tell me everything is wonderful now

Please don’t tell me everything is wonderful now

I go to school and I run and play
I tell the kids that it’s all okay
I laugh aloud so my friends won’t know
When the bell rings I just don’t wanna go home

Go to my room and I close my eyes
I make believe that I have a new life
I don’t believe you when you say
Everything will be wonderful someday

Promises mean everything when you’re little
And the world is so big
I just don’t understand how
You can smile with all those tears in your eyes
When you tell me everything is wonderful now

No
No, I don’t wanna hear you tell me everything is wonderful now
No
No, I don’t wanna hear you tell me everything is wonderful now

I don’t wanna hear you say
That I will understand someday
No, no, no, no
I don’t wanna hear you say
You both have grown in a different way
No, no, no, no
I don’t wanna meet your friends
And I don’t wanna start over again
I just want my life to be the same
Just like it used to be
Some days I hate everything
I hate everything
Everyone and everything
Please don’t tell me everything is wonderful now…

I don’t wanna hear you tell me everything is wonderful now