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I can't remember the last time I was invited to a Super Bowl party.  I've never felt like I was missing out since I don't watch TV (due to my busy schedule not conviction), but this year we received an invitation with the promise of food, so we said yes.

As adults and kids sat down to watch the Katy Perry performance (whom I love, BTW), I had a slight moment of panic trying to decide if the performance would be kid appropriate.  (Remember Beyonce?)  Was I going to be THAT parent that sent the kids to another room while everyone else's children remained??  No. I. Was. Not.  I was going for "cool mom" and so the kids stayed.

And I'm glad they did.

I had tickets to the Katy Perry concert last October and had to miss due to a work event.  I never really regretted missing the concert because I really, really, really love my job.  But after the Super Bowl half-time show, I had major regret.  Katy was brilliant.  I felt like a child viewing a kaleidoscope for the first time.  There was so much going on....so many lights, and dancers, and SHARKS and palm trees, and magical costume changes and moving floors.  There was also LENNY KRAVITZ who turns everything cool into super duper cool (seriously, what man can wear a see through tank top with layered necklaces and still maintain his masculine dignity?!)  Lenny, that's who.

And one more word:  MISSY.  OH. MY GOSH.  Please hear me say, I can't recommend that you go and download Getcha Freak On or Work it, but I will not hold it against you if you do.  It's a total jam and she killed it, y'all.  (and for those of you who had to google who she was...welcome to the cool kids club.)

So here's my non-conservative-but-super-profound-christian commentary about KP:  She added value to an industry that oftentimes seems to have none.

In our REFIT® Instructor trainings, we ask the question, "how can you add value?".  We believe that every human on planet earth has the potential to add value as an individual, which increases value as a whole.  Every addition of value, in large or small ways, is a win for humanity.

Last night, Katy Perry added value to culture.

Whether it was intentional or not, Katy took no liberties to over-sexualize any facet of her performance, when so many artists these days do.  (There was one teeny tiny dance move during her performance with Lenny that raised my eyebrows, but I'm blaming that on getting lost in the shine of Lenny's necklaces.)  Really though, there was nothing dark or dungeon-y about "Dark Horse," the bikini-clad dancers showed no hint of cleavage and her song choices were some of her more positive chart toppers.  (watch how "Roar" inspired REFIT® here)  She could have used her platform to shock and awe an audience (again, remember Beyonce?), but she didn't.  And her perhaps-intentional restraint was definitely noticed and appreciated by this mom -- who was after "cool mom status."

One more observation:  I think her decision to sing "I Kissed a Girl" with Lenny Kravitz was intentional.  Having a male lead the song made it a more family-friendly choice for an audience that might otherwise have an issue with the lyrics.  Let's be honest, Lenny singing about kissing a girl is a whole different deal than Katy singing about kissing a girl, right?  I totally could be reading into it, but I'm betting it was a win for everyone on either side of the fence to have a Lenny+Katy duet.

As Katy ascended into the sky on a floating star (did I just type that?!), she proclaimed a final "God Bless You" farewell, and all the Christians sighed in relief and pondered if maybe Katy was renouncing her wayward ways.

The truth of the matter is we may never know if Katy was intentionally using her platform at the Super Bowl to share her values and beliefs.  But what I do know is that talent and creativity is always a stronger selling tool than sexuality.

Although it may not look as overt or as clean as we "cool moms" would prefer, there was something intentional happening on her stage last night.  Whether or not it was a nod to Him or an allegiance to artist integrity, I applaud Katy for not just raising the bar in terms of creativity but also raising standards.  She had the creative freedom to do ANYTHING she desired and push ANY limit or boundary.  And she didn't.  She didn't have to.  Her artistry shined bright for all to see, and dare I say, her faith roots did too.

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I know there' s been some discussion about Katy renouncing Christianity as a religion (which some have interpreted as being different than renouncing her christian faith), and I've also seen some well-meaning Christians delete her music off of their playlists in response.  Whether she is exhibiting her christian roots or not, she is incredibly talented.  It's important that we don't hold her to a standard of christian living that she can't achieve...and possibly doesn't event want...and in that gap be willing to appreciate her giftings and talents.

If we can all commit to seeing the good in others, regardless of their background, faith or choices, we're all adding value in a way that can change a culture of haters gonna hate.  Agreed?

Incidentally, my kids were not harmed in the watching of the Katy Perry Superbowl Performance.

And guess who got to keep the "cool mom" award tonight?

This girl, right here...