It stopped me in my tracks. Cycling into the Fusion office at 8am through the road spray, I suddenly pulled over as the words hit me, stirred me and reverberated deep in my soul.

I know that Coldplay isn't everybody's cup of herbal tea but I like them! What's more, I find that God uses their music and lyrics to get my attention. Obviously I know that Coldplay aren't going to replace the Bible as God primary media, but the world is His and everything in it - and he can speak to and surprise us however he wants! 

The song was "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall" and I want to highlight three lines and say what I think they speak to in student culture. 

"And all the kids they dance. All the kids all night"

This is Fresher's week. It is the hedonistic party environment that many Christian's are intimidated by and tempted to run from. For many students it can seem so dominant and unchangeable that it is terrifying. It seems easier to "shut the world outside" than to be fully alive in the world. But the truth is, Jesus immersed himself in a messy world of pain, passion, fun and egos. He transformed it from the inside and we can do the same on the dance floor, at the bar and on the sport's field - and when we do "heaven is in sight".

"Don't want to see another generation drop, I'd rather be a comma than a full stop"

I can't communicate to you how deeply this connects with me. I am so sick of seeing students arrive at university, regardless of whether they know Jesus Christ or not and lose track of who they are. Enough is enough. I long to see students become all that God created them to be. To thrive and live life to the full. That is why I would rather be a comma than a full stop. I am giving my life to opening up a new chapter with the students I meet. It's so important that we breathe hope into the students of the UK and say 'that's what has been, what next?'

"Cathedrals in my heart"

At Fusion, we often talk about helping students to connect to church. But it's not about getting people to attend a building - it's so much more dynamic. The truth is, those of us who believe are called to BE walking churches. 1 Peter 2:4-5 says that we "like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house". This is my prayer for the students of the UK. That they would become walking Cathedrals. Bringers of God's presence into a crazy world where the kids dance all night. That they would be part of and continue God's story in being a comma, not a full stop. 

I find the lyrics of songs can be good conversation starters. Why not ask your mates what they think the words mean?

I have put the lyrics as well as the official video to the song below.

 

 

I turn the music up, I got my records on

I shut the world outside until the lights come on

Maybe the streets alight, maybe the trees are gone

But I feel my heart start beating to my favorite song

 

And all the kids they dance, all the kids all night

Until Monday morning feels another life

I turn the music up, I'm on a roll this time

And heaven is in sight, Ooh

 

I turn the music up, I got my records on

From underneath the rubble sing a rebel song

Don't want to see another generation drop

I'd rather be a comma than a full stop

 

Maybe I'm in the black, maybe I'm on my knees

Maybe I'm in the gap between the two trapezes

But my heart is beating and my pulses start

Cathedrals in my heart

 

As we saw, oh, this light

I swear you emerge blinking into

To tell me it's alright

As we soar walls

Every siren is a symphony

And every tear's a waterfall

 

Is a waterfall, ah

Is a waterfall, ah

Is a waterfall

Every tear is a waterfall, ah

So you can hurt, hurt me bad

But still I'll raise the flag, Wooh

It was a wa-ah-ah-ah-aterfall

A wa-ah-ah-ah-aterfall

Oh, Oh

Every tear

Every tear

Every teardrop is a waterfall