"Remember what you are..."

Lent is a time to get real about who we are. For me, that means both my mortality and my propensity to believe that I am more than I really am. I find this song* from Nine Inch Nails a potent reminder to "remember what you are." That is, to remember that I am the improbable outcome of millions of years of star dust coming together through unlikely ancestors; that I am a speck of life in a 13 billion year old universe that is 46 billion light years in radius (and expanding); and that I probably shouldn't think more of myself than I really am.

If you are offended by the "F" word, then this song isn't for you. But if you're interested in listening to an artist express his human side, then you might enjoy this song and find it a timely reminder for Lent.

I tried to sneak myself through, tried to get to the other side
I had to patch up the cracks and the holes that I have to hide
For a little bit of time even made it work okay
Just long enough to really make it hurt
When they figured me out and it all just rotted away

Don't you f*ing know what you are?
Go on get back to where you belong!

You better take a good look cause I'm full of s**t
With every bit of my heart I've tried to believe in it
You can dress it all up, you can try to pretend
But you can't change anything
You can't change anything
In the end

Don't you f*ing know what you are?

Remember where you came from, remember what you are

Don't you f*ing know what you are?
Go on get back to where you belong!

*If you like this song then I highly recommend this live version.