I recently had the opportunity to see Ed Sheeran in concert on his Mathematics Tour, but now he has been living rent-free in my brain for the last couple of weeks.
Why?
It’s not like the days of old when I had a massive crush on Justin Bieber and thought about him all the time. I’m married, and so is Ed, and I love my husband infinitely more than I could ever love Ed. Just wanted to make that clear.
Taking all of this into account, a few things come to mind as to why I can’t get over Mr. Sheeran:
Humility
I don’t know Ed personally, but from what I’ve seen in interviews, in his song lyrics, and of him on stage, the man seems pretty humble. This is certainly an admirable trait in anyone, but perhaps even more-so in those who find themselves in the limelight.
Authenticity/Vulnerability
This past spring, I watched “The Sum of It All” docuseries about Ed on Disney+, and I was very moved by how raw he was willing to be on film. Again, I don’t know him, but as he articulated his deep pain stemming from the death of one of his best friends, as well as the health scare that his wife experienced while pregnant with their second child, it didn’t seem to be a show for the cameras. Thanks, Ed, for letting us into that part of your life.
family
Wow, I love that Ed is married and has 2 kids, one of them being the same age as my son. I also love that he keeps them out of the spotlight. How awesome it is that he keeps his personal life private, away from the cameras. In the docuseries, Ed said that he never spends more than 10 days away from home at a time. What a feat when you’re on a lengthy world tour!
It is also evident that his family of origin is very important to him, which is also quite admirable. Big family man.
The loop pedal
Okay, I cannot get over the freaking loop pedal. For those unfamiliar with this, when performing live, Ed records all of the background music and vocals live and then plays them back using what’s called a “loop pedal.” The music is all him, and at the end of a show, the recording is erased. For his final song at the concert I attended, he missed hitting the loop pedal, and the song just died because there was no background track. I loved this! How authentic! The loop pedal was the thing that convinced me to get tickets in the first place because I knew the performance would be one to remember. And it was. What a mind this man must have to be able to hit the pedals and sing along and record all at the right times.
I’m simply in awe of how talented Ed is, but I’m also so struck by his humanity. He’s a son, brother, husband, father, and friend, before he’s a famous singer-songwriter. His realness makes him more lovable and relatable, as far as celebrities go. Perhaps that’s why he’s stayed on my mind over the past couple of weeks. I love that guy—as I should love any of my brothers in Christ—and I hope that he knows how truly loved he is. Not by the millions of fans, but by those closest to him, and, more importantly, by his Creator and the One who loves him the most.