“Tethered”

Track No. 10 — 4:23

She/They is a young queer person of faith, and their song is a conversation between the subject and God. In it, the subject is painfully honest, speaking conversationally and with a level of vulnerability we don’t always dare to reach in our prayers.

“If I love who I love, then will I ever be enough?” they ask. “Most days it’s a battle to get up out of my bed. It’s a battle to lift my head or call your name.” If we’re being as honest, maybe we’ve felt that way before.

But time and again, God affirms the subject of the song: “I love who you are.” And that is so special. Sometimes, when we hear that God loves everyone, it sounds generic, kind of like a teacher having no favorite students in their class. But God’s love is not a one-size-fits-all blanket that covers us, disregarding our individuality, quirks, hopes, and fears. God’s love is unique to each of us. God’s love for each of us takes into consideration our unique wounds and our unique gifts.

“I love who you are” is even more personal than “I love you.” On the contrary, have you ever heard or been told, “I love you, but”? But not your queerness. Not your transness. Not your personality.

God loves who you are, She/They affirms, including your sexual orientation and gender identity. Including your personality and all the things about which you might feel insecure.

Says She/They, “I was just sitting alone in my room wanting to share how God truly feels about Their children. They love all of us so deeply. I wanted to share that with the world. As a non-binary and gay Christian, I feel like this song came to me because it wanted to come from a voice of someone who is in the community and has experienced these things, too.”

Song credits:

Written by: Mel Rottman / Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Tamborine: Mel Rottman / Guitar, Synth: Kyle Paul Miller / Drums: Tyler Cuchiara / Produced & Mixed by: Kyle Paul Miller / Mastered by: David Wilton at Coalesce Audio