What If God Was One Of Us
Jewel
Divine Humanity: Exploring the Sacred in the Mundane
Jewel's song "What If God Was One Of Us" delves into the profound and thought-provoking idea of divinity existing within the ordinary. The lyrics challenge listeners to consider the nature of God and the divine by posing a series of hypothetical questions. The song opens with the contemplation of God's name and whether humanity would have the courage to address Him directly. This sets the stage for a deeper exploration of faith and belief, questioning what one might ask if given the chance to converse with God face-to-face.
The chorus, with its repetitive and almost meditative quality, brings forth the central theme: "What if God was one of us?" This line invites listeners to imagine God as an ordinary person, perhaps a stranger on a bus, trying to navigate the complexities of life just like anyone else. This imagery serves to humanize the divine, suggesting that God could be found in the most unexpected places and people. It challenges the traditional, often distant, perception of God and encourages a more intimate and relatable understanding.
The song also touches on the implications of truly seeing and believing in God. It questions whether people would be willing to accept the existence of heaven, Jesus, and other religious figures if they were confronted with undeniable evidence. The lyrics suggest a sense of isolation and loneliness in the divine experience, with God being depicted as a "holy rollin' stone" trying to find His way back to heaven, unnoticed and unrecognized by the world. This portrayal underscores the idea that the divine might be closer and more accessible than people realize, yet often overlooked in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.