Riding the waves of life

Image Credit: Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

Jason Spender, 20th Nov 2023
Tags: Music Blog Challenges Owl City Pop

I’ve been listening recently to Owl City’s new album Coco Moon.

I first began listening to Owl City when ‘Fireflies’ was released, which soon gained worldwide success.

Owl City’s songs have always inspired and uplifted me, with their warm tones, simple melodies and powerful lyrics. And Coco Moon is no different! These songs are filled with real and authentic lyrics about life and faith.

I love so many of the new songs, but two that have stood out to me from the album are Vitamin Sea and Learn How To Surf.

These songs have great vibes and also carry important messages within them!

Both songs recognise that life can be tough. At times, life can be overwhelming and it can feel like we are drowning in difficult situations. It can feel as if we are unable to lift ourselves out of the ocean that we’ve found ourselves in.

We can’t always control what is happening in our lives, but we can choose how to respond.

The truth of these songs though, is that we can’t always control what is happening in our lives, but we can choose how to respond.

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn how to surf.”

Maybe you have had a best friend whose turned their back on you. Perhaps things aren’t working out well with the course you’ve chosen. Maybe the medical report isn’t good. Or you’ve broken up with a boy/girl friend and you feel heartbroken. Whatever your facing right now…

These are waves in life that try to stop us from living out our best life. Just like natural waves in the water can vary in size and strength, so too can the things we go through in life. Yet, all waves try and push us back to stop us moving forward.

As Adam rightly says, you can’t stop these waves from coming at you in life, but you can learn how to surf. In other words, when difficult situations come, you need to learn how to respond well. When you respond well, you begin to ride the waves of life.

Of course, when you are learning how to surf you may get wiped out and it may hurt! But like learning any skill, the key is to pick yourself up and keeping trying.

Life has ups and downs, which is seen in these two songs through the water. In Vitamin Sea, the water represents good times. In Learn How To Surf, the water represents tough times.

Whether life is great right now for you, or you’re facing some big waves in life, let these lyrics from another song on Coco Moon encourage you:

“You were made to run and not be faint
So take heart, wild one, for there is a God
Who loves you to death, no matter what you’ve done
So don’t lose hope ‘cause He will lead you home”