Thom Yorke, lead singer and songwriter of Radiohead, calls out the surface and transactional experiences of this world in their song Fake Plastic Trees.
“Her green plastic watering can
For her fake Chinese rubber plant
In the fake plastic earth
That she bought from a rubber man
In a town full of rubber plans
To get rid of itself”
Okay, this song is obviously about someone else– and not me. Because, “I’m not that shallow, am I?” I reflect on this as I sit in my backyard taking in nature: a gentle breeze blowing my hair, listening to birdsong.
And yet I am also absorbing manufactured sounds of water flowing over fake waterfalls designed to drown out the noise pollution of suburban traffic,–while scrolling on my phone and thinking about what I might do or accomplish on this fine day.
“And it wears me out
It wears me out
It wears me out
It wears me out”
I laugh at myself as I realize- I might just be fake plastic too. I feel seen and caught by the lyrics of this song. It’s probably why I feel so worn out.
And if I could be who you wanted
If I could be who you wanted
All the time
All the time
Conforming to the fake plastic aspects of this world is fairly easy. Becoming–or transforming in Christ asks so much more from us. It requires a deep knowing and truthfulness with ourselves, intentionality, presence of mind– and much bravery and grace.
How about you, Reader? Do you find yourself swept up in a fake plastic world? How might you cultivate realness in and around you?
Reflection inspired by Radiohead’s Fake Plastic Trees and the wisdom of the Blue Fairy in Pinocchio.
Incredible words to chew on! Love reading your reflections.