In 2011, Switchfoot released the album Vice Verses. It’s an album full of guitar‑driven music that I absolutely love. The songs from this album have traveled with me through life, and several of them were my training partner for earning my black belt several years ago.
Every life has a story, and every story needs a theme song. One of the songs that I come back to almost daily for inspiration is the song “Dark Horses.” This is my theme song.
I’ve made my mistakes
I’ve seen my heart cave in
I’ve got my scars
I’ve been to hell and back again
Born for the blue skies
We’ll survive the rain
Born for the sunrise
We’ll survive the pain
In August of 1988, I buried my mother the day before my freshman year of high school. It was a hard day and a hard year. The pain was massive. It wasn’t the last time I would face hardship, but it was an experience that caused a big shift in my life’s perspective. I knew that I was created for greater things.
We’re singing
Hey, you can’t count us out
We’ve been running up against the crowd
Yeah, we’re the dark horses
We’re singing
Wait! It’s not over now
We’ve been down but we’ve never been out
Yeah, we’re the dark horses
Life is full of hardships. In my life, my faith in God and my perspective of His intentions for my life have gotten me through. I find that he often whispers over me, but I have to slow down and listen. He’s speaking truth regarding my destiny, but I have to be quiet in order to hear him.
We found the way out
The city takes everything it can
But outside the crowds
I can feel my lungs again
Born for the blue skies
We’ll survive the rain
Born for the sunrise
We’ll survive the pain
The true breakthrough comes when we believe God loves us and intends the hardships to lead to good. Often, it’s not easy to see, but that glimmer of hope differentiates the overcomers from the victims.
The overcomers are the Dark Horses.
Keep running with the dark horses
Hope makes the blood change courses
Keep running with the dark horses
Staying up for the dark horses
Keep running with the dark horses
Hope makes the blood change courses