I’m a Star- Jeremih (also, Lupe’s Superstar, Estelle’s Shine)

I thought I told yah... I'm a star/You see the ice... You see the cars
Flashy lights... Everywhere we are/Live the night... Like there's no tomorrow

The Jeremih version of This Lil' Light of Mine, I’m a Star is my new favorite cruising anthem. It has the feel that he’s tried to explain his awesomeness and we just haven’t gotten it yet. So, here is an entire song dedicated to how awesome he is. This is a song for the haters. I mean, shouldn’t you have gotten it by now? I was made in the image of God. I am pretty amazing. This is nothing new. It’s just new to you. There are so many signs around me pointing to how incredible I am. So where have you been?

We’ve all had doubters among us: The fellow student that is amazed by your ability to put a together sentence. The coworker that is “wowed” (and annoyed) by your problem-solving ability. The partner that extends his/her personal insecurities to include you.

The idea that we should be in touch with our own greatness is biblical. In fact, the idea that we are not great is an arrogance that opposes God’s view. If we are made in the likeness of God, there’s got to be something great about us, even if it is only the potential to be great. Each of us can greatly impact the world. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens…Dan 12:3 … you shine like stars in the universe Phil 2:14

And it’s not just that I am amazing, it is offensive that I should try NOT to shine. Marianne Williamson had it right when she asked “Who are we NOT to be great?”

You are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14

Jeremih is a star. We all are. Stars give light. But stars also should en-lighten? The rest of the song is dedicated to flaunting material wealth, fame & sexual prowess. Still, God speaks to me through this song. We use the greatness we can touch to understand the greatness we can't. I can’t understand the richness of peace. So I imagine having money in excess. I imagine not being driven by need. Now, I can start to understand peace. Sometimes, I can not be alone without the ache of loneliness. I imagine the perfect relationship. Now, I can see a glimpse of contentment without that need. I can’t imagine Divine love. So I imagine fame. I begin to see how big God’s love is.

I am only great because I am the reflection of something greater. Whenever I direct the world back to something greater than me, I am participating in something divine. The singer, the producer, the writer, the teacher, the grandmother—they are all breathtakingly beautiful because they show us a little piece of heaven. And each of us is the back light. Shine.