Have you ever had a dream? You went full throttle ahead with it only to hit a massive brick wall? How did that make you feel? (Don’t you hate it when reporters ask questions like that to people who have just experienced great tragedy?) The question is almost rhetorical. I don’t have to hear your answer. I know what it is. Discouraged. Disillusioned. Anyone can relate to broken dreams.

I just read James Scott Bell’s book, Write Your Novel from the Middle. He talks about this moment in a well-written story where the MC takes a good look in the mirror and sees himself for what he is. He then has to make a decision about where to go next. Mr. Bell says this mirror moment is what the novel is all about, the main point the author is trying to make, and it almost always takes place in the middle of the story.

My youngest daughter got me hooked on the music of a young and very talented artist named Cody Fry. (Thanks, Shannon!) His music is amazing. As with all my favorite musicians, he has a handful of songs I love most. One is titled “Flying.”

This musical masterpiece tells a story of a very unhappy young man. His dreams of flying are so shattered he can’t even find his wings. He gives in to negative voices telling him, “Your dream is a lie, no one on earth can fly.” In his discontent, he lashes out and, like many of us, blames the one who told him he only had to believe. He questions his faith. Did it let him down or did he just not have enough? In the midst of lashing out again, he questions, “Was it even you I listened to?” It’s no longer, “You said if I believed…” Now it’s, “I thought if I believed enough…” He’s taken the leap, and he thinks he’s about to crash and die. Then…whoosh! The instrumental crescendo is amazing. Makes me tear up every time because of how majestic it is. I’m an eagle soaring through the clouds, above the storm. I feel the wind in my face. Our protagonist sees that, whoa! He’s flying! His dream has come true.

But wait. How is he flying? He closes his eyes while the one he once blamed lifts him up. He’s still not flying on his own, but he’s enjoying the dream. And in the very last line, he now gives credit to the one who first encouraged him. “You said if I believed enough, I would fly.” The same line used in blame is now used in thanksgiving and recognition.

This is one of the most inspiring songs I’ve heard in a long time. I don’t know the author’s intent or the story behind it, I don’t know who the “you” in the song represents. My first thought was a parent. Moms and dads tend to tell their children they can do anything, be anything they want to be if they believe it enough. We think we’re doing them a favor, empowering them. And then idealistic kids with their heads full of dreams hit the real world. Ouch. Sobering.

Side note: no hate mail, please. I do not condemn parents who encourage their kids. But if that is not tempered with advice about how hard achieving success is, it can be disastrous and lead to self-doubt, pity, bitterness…and the list goes on.

Back to flying. My daughter interpreted the song her way. She took it to be a conversation with God. Because Who lifts us up so we can fly? A human parent can’t do that, only God can. And as much as I wanted to agree with her, I thought, God never tells us we just have to believe enough and we’ll be able to fly or (fill in with dream goal). 

Ah, but the Bible does say if we have the faith of a mustard seed, we can move mountains. (Matthew 17:20; Luke 17:6). And Isaiah 40:31 says those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength and mount up with wings like eagles. When that verse hit me in the middle of pondering the lyrics to “Flying”, I started to cry. Yes, literally. So ok, I do cry at the drop of a hat, but these were good tears. What a realization!

I don’t know if Cody Fry believes in God. I sure hope he does because I’d love to dance on the streets of gold with him someday. But the way his song speaks to me now matches my daughter’s thinking. God lifts us up. It doesn’t mean He gives us everything we want. But He does promise that, if we are in tune with Him, which would mean our desires line up with His, He will give us the desires of our hearts. (Psalm 37:4)

But wait. What does any of this have to do with Bell’s book? I’m glad you asked. Since I just read it and am in the process of putting his advice into practice, I couldn’t help but measure the song and see where the mirror moment took place. The song is 3:58 minutes long, and the self-realization takes place around 1:53. Yep. It’s right about the middle of the song. 

Note: I don’t get anything for suggesting you listen to this song or look up James Scott Bell’s book. I just wanted to share.

Links to Cody Fry’s “Flying”

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2IsBpMTE5ht4vsPGEFD5Fc?si=0afcf9c6549d48e4

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLVIjdDfECQ

Link to James Scott Bell’s book https://www.amazon.com/Write-Your-Novel-Middle-Approach/dp/0910355118