In light of the Grammy awards that aired Sunday night, Neil Strauss offers a provocative piece in the Wall Street Journal that ties the faith of some of that night's big stars to their ultimate success as performing artists.

In his article Strauss finds the surprising link between the success of some of music's biggest names and their belief that God had preordained them for such life plans. He spoke with Lady Gaga, Snoop Dogg and Christina Aguilera, and all shared the belief that God has a divine purpose for each of their lives and played the integral role in their success. Many of them trace this spiritual destiny to their childhood, and Aguilera's mother shared that "fame was her daughter's destiny."

Clearly Strauss doesn't suggest that merely their faith in God's plan for their lives has landed them where they are, nor is he attempting to prove the powers of faith. The synopsis of the article is well put in his own words: "This hardly proves that there is a God guiding the destiny of these stars. But it does suggest that unshakable confidence and a powerful sense of purpose are good predictors of success."

It begs the question: Does God preordain the rest of us to lead less glamorous but successful lives? Are those of us that have a powerful sense of purpose marked by success? I think of teachers, pastors, firefighters, nurses and doctors who all share a sense that they felt called to do the profession that they are in, or believe they've been gifted by God to serve in those particular fields.

In each case, they would consider themselves successful, not by the standards of Lady Gaga or Aaron Rodgers, but successful and confident all the same. Perhaps a sense of greater purpose and a faith in God's plan for our personal lives, is a great predictor of success, and, I would add, happiness.

Thank you, Neil Strauss, for your insight of God at the Grammys and the interesting theological questions it poses.

Darcy Crain-Polly is the Associate Minister at the First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor. She can be reached directly by email.