“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10
When I told our three daughters that I was thinking about writing a devotional about Taylor Swift, they couldn’t wait to share more about the pop star. Taylor Swift is one of the most popular music artists in the world. It is hard to turn on the news, look at social media, or listen to the radio without hearing from Taylor Swift.
Few people have achieved the success and popularity of Taylor Swift. Her fans are in the millions. They are simply known as “Swifties.” Last month, she became the first female artist to reach over 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Her list of awards is far too long to list. She has been named as the Time Person of the Year and was the youngest female to appear on the Forbes’ list of 100 Most Powerful Women. She is currently on tour. This tour is known as the Eras Tour. The tour is set to earn over 1 billion dollars. It is one of the most successful music tours in history.
The success of Taylor Swift is undeniable. She began as a young country singer and now is one of the most successful performers in the world. What caught my attention this past week is that, amid her success, Taylor Swift is committed to making a difference and helping others. At each stop on her tour, Taylor Swift donates to the local food banks and hunger relief ministries. Although both Swift and the food banks have declined to share just how much she has donated, one food bank stated they will be able to purchase thousands of pounds of fresh food to help families in the area they serve.
More than Taylor’s donation, the recognition she brings to these food banks is significant. She highlights the need to help others who are hungry. When her tour was in Arlington, TX, she donated to the Tarrant Area Food Bank. The director of this food bank, Stephen Raeside, said “Swift has one of the biggest voices on our planet. An endorsement from Taylor is more than we could ever ask for, and it led to a very successful fundraising campaign.”
We are all called to make a difference in the world. God has asked each of us to care for our neighbors. We have been given gifts to use to help lift others to better circumstances. Taylor Swift is generous with her resources. She gives to bless others. She also uses her platform to inspire others to give. When each of us uses what God has shared with us, we will bless lives. We can and will make a difference in the world.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
