Thunder Rd. street sign

I am a huge Bruce Springsteen fan, so it’s no surprise that I’m anxiously counting down the days until this Sunday when I’ll get to see him and the E-Street Band in concert at the Scottrade Center.

In addition to writing some of the best lines ever in rock and roll music, in the song Thunder Road Springsteen is  responsible for what I think may be the most honest - albeit horribly conceived - pick-up line ever:

“You ain’t a beauty, but hey you’re alright.”

Of course, he follows it up with the reassuring, “And that’s all right with me,” which brings some level of humility to the whole thing and somehow makes the statement actually seem kind of sweet, in a naïve way (since I don’t think that the narrator is speaking grudgingly but rather that he genuinely means that her appearance is okay with him).

Still, I can’t imagine that the girl he’s propositioning (Mary, a name frequently used by Springsteen, an admittedly lapsed Catholic) is going to be quick to jump into the singer’s car after such an appraisal - which may be why it takes the rest of the song to convince her to climb in and even then ends on an ambiguous note.

Bruce Springsteen. Photo Credit: Danny Clinch

I can’t help but think sometimes that God must view us like that: We’re not beauties, we’re not perfect - but hey, we’re alright…and that’s alright with him.

Almost like he puts up with and at best tolerates us; maybe we amuse him, so we’re worth keeping around.

But then I think about what it says in Scripture, and I know that God regards us as much, much more than just “alright.”

Consider Jeremiah 1:4-5:

The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…”

And Psalm 139:14:

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

And then the words of Jesus in Luke 12:6-8:

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

We have a God who loves us more than we could ever imagine. He not only loves us more than anyone else could ever love us, but even more than we could ever love ourselves.

Where we see something that may be just “alright,” God sees something wondrous and beautiful and worthwhile. Would he have stuck with us if we were just “alright”? Would he have sent his Son to redeem us and opened wide the gates of Heaven?

God personally created each and every one of us - none of us are accidental or worth less than another.

That’s something to revel in and be amazed by.

That’s something we all need to reflect in our dealings with others.

God says, “You’re more than alright - You’re amazing, and I love you. I long for you to know me better, to enjoy all of the good things I have in store for you.”

You and I are valued and cherished beyond comprehension.

And while I know that I will always fall short of the glory of God, I am reassured by the fact that as I strive to know and obey my Lord with all of my heart, his love for me will never waver.