By Charlie Martin • Catholic News Service • Posted October 25, 2016

“Rise”

I won’t just survive
Oh, you will see me thrive
Can write my story
I’m beyond the archetype
I won’t just conform
No matter how you shake my core
Cause my roots, they run deep

Refrain:
O ye of so little faith
Don’t doubt it, don’t doubt it
Victory is in my veins
I know it, I know it
And I will not negotiate
I’ll fight it, I’ll fight it
I will transform

When, when the fire’s at my feet again
And the vultures all start circling
They’re whispering, “you’re out of time”
But still, I rise

This is no mistake, no accident
When you think the final nail is in, think again
Don’t be surprised, I will still rise
I must stay conscious
Through the madness and chaos
So I call on my angels
They say

(Repeat refrain.)

Cause when, when the fire’s at my feet again
And the vultures all start circling
They’re whispering, “you’re out of time”
But still, I rise

This is no mistake, no accident
When you think the final nail is in, think again
Don’t be surprised, I will still rise

Don’t doubt it, don’t doubt
You know it, you know it
Still rise
Just fight it, just fight it
Don’t be surprised, I will still rise

Sung by Katy Perry
Copyright 2016, Capitol Records

Katy Perry’s latest release “Rise” was created as an “image song” for NBC’s coverage of this past summer’s Rio Olympics. Perry stated that “Rise” is “a song that’s brewing inside me for years,” and she wanted to release the song as a stand-alone track instead of including it on her upcoming album.

For Perry, “Rise” stresses that “now more than ever, there is a need for the world to unite.” She saw that when athletes showcase their strength and fearlessness, their efforts help all of us find new resolve to address the difficult problems before us.

Indeed, to meet these challenges we are going to have to find courage. However, the heart of this work starts with each of us as individuals.

We, who are Jesus’ disciples, have the road map for this change — Jesus’ life and teaching. Can we “rise” in new ways to act with the forgiveness, compassion and commitment needed so that all of God’s people are treated with justice and value?

The song refers to the power of doubt in our lives. She says “victory is in your veins” and “don’t doubt it.” Well, it may not be that easy, as doubt almost always surfaces, even if we feel committed to what we want to achieve.

[hotblock]

We need not repress any thoughts of doubt. Instead, just notice doubt when it arises. Jesus modeled what it means to live with perfect faith in God, but most of us can only aspire to live like this.

When doubt emerges, listen to it, and see if it has a message that can be valuable.

For example, let’s say you want to enter a certain profession, but that profession requires lots of academic preparation. After completing the rigorous course work and graduating, you still have to pass a national board test to work in this profession. Is perfect faith required so that you can achieve your goal?

What if you wonder, perhaps even doubt, if you can pass the difficult courses involved? Such thoughts are to be expected. What is helpful is to admit to the fear, make a sensible plan of how to proceed and ask God to help you.

Doubt need not deter you from setting a difficult goal. Make a commitment to bring your best effort to whatever is required.

It is unlikely that every athlete who competed in this past summer’s Olympic Games had complete faith that they would be able to win a gold medal. Instead, they gave themselves totally to the goal, worked like crazy and trusted that the best would unfold.

And not all who set the goal to reach Rio actually made it. Yet, all grew as human beings through their efforts, even if the outcome was eventually disappointing.

God has placed his divine purpose into all of our lives, but discovering it is sometimes complex. Still, you can “rise” to trust your desires, to trust that even if a goal becomes elusive, God’s guidance is with you.

Set off to follow the passions in your heart. Our world faces significant challenges, but what you have to give is so needed. God will help you “rise” to all the goodness that dwells within you.

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Your comments are always welcome. Please write to me at: chmartin@hughes.net, or at: 7125 West CR, 200 South, Rockport, IN 47635, or like this column on Facebook at “Charlie Martin’s Today’s Music Columns” and post a comment or suggestion.