Welcome back to The Gospel According To, where we celebrate all things bright and beautiful in the human stories and songs we love, then look at them differently to find the undercurrent of grace beneath. This week, I was thinking about the season of life I’m in and how to find the strength to keep going forward, and ended up listening to “Be Brave” from Owl City’s Cinematic album. Enjoy!
Fandom:
Truth: God is with you and will help you. He says, “Just be brave. Get through today, and trust me to guide you. Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
The Horizontal View: The rewards of stepping outside your comfort zone
In its original context, “Be Brave” is the story of how Adam Young met his girlfriend Abbie. It’s a characteristically sweet tale of love after years of loss and sadness. And of course, Adam’s poetic style is evident throughout the song with phrases like “Wildflower knew I wasn’t well” and “I was always told your heart is where you’re home.” The main imagery in this song is a “paper bird,” which I like to interpret as an origami crane, but Adam describes it as a business card with a bird on it.
Here’s a video I found with Adam telling his full story of the inspiration for “Be Brave” and what he hopes that listeners will gain from listening to it ✨
The Vertical View: Personal experience of a courage-giving God
This song came out in April of 2018, during one of the more difficult seasons of my life. It was so beautiful, I actually cried when I heard the chorus and bridge (still do sometimes):
And what I thought in the parking lot was like/ I just wanna know your name/ I drove away with not much to say/ but in my hand I held a paper bird, and written on it were the words “Be Brave”…. (lovely vocalizations) Okay, I’ll be brave.
The first time I heard these words, I was battling with one of the worst disappointments of my life. I had been rejected by the dance department at my university, and was now required to finish a semester full of classes that wouldn’t take my anywhere. Surrounded by other students who had successfully entered the dance program, it was a struggle to make myself go to class every week. And that was when Adam Young’s lyrics began to sound like God’s own voice whispering in my ear, “Be brave.”
fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. … For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
Isaiah 41:10, 13 ESV
This was one of the first times that a fandom and a Bible verse became entwined in my brain, and it still is one of the most impactful, several semesters and a tumultuous graduation later.
Obsessed (or even casual) Hoot Owl like me? You’ll 🦉😻🌆 these posts!
- The Gospel According to Owl City: This is the Future
- Owl City “Always” part 1 – I Am.
- The Gospel According to Owl City – To the Sky
Now that I’ve graduated college, the thought in my mind is figuring out What’s Next. Considering the amount of time, money, and energy it took to get here, this is a rather overwhelming thought, especially with a Liberal Arts degree. It can be tempting to try and avoid making a decision, telling myself that I’ll just take the first job I can find and be done with it, or simply procrastinate applying in the first place. Fear of disappointment or doing the Wrong Thing is so real! But in this season of life, I can still hear the voice of my Father telling me, “It’s okay. Just be brave. Just get through today, and I’ll take care of What’s Next. Knock, and the right door will be opened. Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” And this is my response, the words I have to fight to believe sometimes:
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
Psalm 27:14 ESV
A gift for you
Thank you so much for staying with me until now! Before we wrap up this post, I wanted to let you know about a new printable sticker/Scripture prompt that’s now available in my ko-fi shop. This one includes two pages of art elements, most of which were originally hand-painted by me, and a page of Scripture prompts for Bible journaling and reflection. Click the image below to download them for yourself!!
You can also get your very own Fangirl: Fulfilled devotional journal on Amazon (with Prime shipping!!) and join me in the journey of deepening your faith with the fandoms you already love.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post about Owl City’s Cinematic album and the song “Be Brave.” It felt good to reflect on God’s past and present faithfulness in my life, and I hope you were encouraged and challenged to be brave and trust Him more.
Happy fangirling!
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