The song is called “Rise Above It” by the band Switchfoot. It’s just one of 400 songs on my mp3 player (I know, the cool kids don’t have these anymore, huh?), but I’ve noticed something funny over the recent months. If I get in the car and put the device on the shuffle setting, this song seems to pop up a disproportionate number of times. More often than not, I’m going to hear it at some point during my travels.
Is it a weird technological coincidence? Maybe. Is it God telling me to cut the crap and leave the pity party I’ve been attending lately? Perhaps, but I’ll come back to that.
If I remember correctly, someone brought the CD that had this song on it along on a youth group mission trip when I was still in high school. The music was a fun and upbeat soundtrack as we drove around Pennsylvania that week, but that was about it. The lyrics meant next to nothing to me at that time, or so it seemed.
“Rise Above It” (in my interpretation, anyhow) is a song about fighting back against all the stuff in this world that tends to hold people down. So here we are in 2021, and yes, I did download this track for a reason. I’m glad I stumbled upon it again. It suddenly held meaning.
Rust. Broken. Counterfeit. Typical. Sick. Miracle.
Personally, this has been a tough year so far. I mean, this was the year that I decided I like cats! Who even is this girl? :p But seriously, things happened, and I’ve been through bouts of intense loneliness and homesickness. I’ve felt like I’ve been stuck in a massive rut- professionally, relationally, emotionally, spiritually, and so on. This mental entrapment has led to much questioning, overthinking, and many doubts. Of course, I know my struggles sound silly and insignificant compared to what other people I know are suffering through. Nonetheless, it’s been different than anything I’ve ever experienced before.
I’ve spent more time than I want to admit, mucking around in my mostly self-inflicted misery. Thought patterns like:
If only I were more _____.
If only I had/hadn’t done _____, surely things would be different.
I’m such a failure because______.
You get the picture, I’m sure. It’s a vicious cycle, and I got to the point where I was disgusted with it all. Sure, sometimes life is going to just plain suck. You are going to get knocked down. Day-to-day living is draining and repetitive. We make mistakes and feel like we’re never quite good enough. Opportunities seemingly pass us by for any number of reasons. But when I live in defeat, I’m letting those things win. I need to- dare I say it…rise above it.
The truth is, Jesus already did the dirty work centuries ago to make it possible for us to get back up and not stay stuck in that hole. So how do we live in light of that? How do I do that?
For me, I decided I had to start writing again.
A few years ago, I got frustrated and gave up on the fiction manuscripts I had in progress. For a while after that, I dabbled in the technical and journalistic writing field. Then 2020 happened. It kind of goes without saying, but things got really weird. The pandemic hit, and I stopped writing altogether.
Some days it is just the mundaneness of life that leaves me feeling so numb. I need a creative outlet. I need to rekindle my passion for telling stories. Living in a place of self-defeat is a waste of precious time, and it does nothing to help make the world a better place and give people hope. I can do both by putting pen to paper. I can help others find their way out of their muddy mess before it’s too late.
It’s been a few months now since I started working on a new fiction story idea. Honestly, it’s the most liberated I’ve felt all year. The Fading Blue Owl website marks the start of a new chapter, and I’m excited; welcome aboard!
I hope you’ll join me in learning how to triumph over all of the things that threaten to drag and keep us held under (and PLEASE, don’t be ashamed to seek professional help if your situation requires it <3). It’s not an easy journey, not at all, but it’s worth it.
So let’s go!
The system has indeed been bucked.
It’s time to write again!
~KL
Fading Blue Owl 