Much has been written about the creative talents of Lewis Capaldi and the well-documented challenges he has faced in the last 12 months. Lewis Capaldi is the Scottish singer-songwriter and musician who won the 2020 Brit Award for Best New Artist. He has released two critically acclaimed albums with tracks that have become firm favourites amongst his fans.
Despite the immense talent that Lewis Capaldi undoubtedly has there is one other thing that seems to endear him to people – his vulnerability. He has spoken of the mental health challenges he faces, of the growing anxiety he feels and of the onset of Tourrettes Syndrome. At the Glastonbury Festival in June 2023 these three things combined in a spectacular way which caused him to lose his voice and bring his set to a premature end. Yet the crowd cheered louder and sang the songs for him in an unprecedented show of support.
Lauren Windle, feature writer for Woman Alive Magazine, wrote about this in an article for their July 2023 Issue: “You see, what we often forget is that people don’t begrudge vulnerability. They don’t begrudge weakness. They do begrudge laziness, or excuses, or selfishness. But rarely does anyone kick up a fuss about vulnerability. Because, even though it doesn’t feel like it to the person experiencing it, it’s just an important component of courage. It’s courageous to go on stage when you know your mental health isn’t at its best. It’s courageous to stay on stage when you’re not sure if you can sing anymore. It’s courageous to let others help you. It’s also a gift to others when they get the chance to help and feel a part of something.”
Do you ever feel vulnerable? Do you ever feel anxious? Then live courageously. Because God is on your side. God walks with you. God provides others to help and support you. Believe in him. Hold on to him.
One of the tracks on his second album, Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent, is called The Pretender. In it, Capaldi sings honestly of his feelings of anxiety and of hiding behind a happy mask.
I will be your shoulder to cry on
I will make you laugh if you need
I will play the part if you say so
Yeah, I'll be anybody but me
To tell you the truth, I'm the fraud in the room
And I know that
But you never will
In my mind, it's instilled not to show that
I spend almost all of my time
Feeling like I'm falling even further behind
And I know I'm so good at seeming
Like I'm not on the edge of a knife
I'm the pretender, what can I tell ya?
Designed to deceive
So, tell me who you want me to be
You might feel like a pretender, or an imposter, you might be adept at wearing a mask. But God knows you, and God loves you. Immensely. Overwhelmingly. Genuinely. Such good news.
Prayer
Gracious God, be my peace, be my strength, be my joy.
May your love hold me in the storms of life. May your presence bring me peace in the chaos that I face.
Help me to know that you accept me as I am. That you rejoice in me. That you cherish me like no other.
I give you all that I am. Amen.
Neil Chappell
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