Today Sunday Morning (morning news show on CBS) was doing a piece on Coldplay. They were talking about the popular panda movies and the message of inner strength sent by the panda learning to catch the bombs and fling them back twice as hard. The concept naturally caught my mind and sent it spinning.
I concluded that over the years I learned that lesson quite well. I remember the few times the bombs completely obliterated me, but never killed me. Those times taught me how to dodge them. I spent many years doing that, until, I, like the panda, accidentally caught one, and in an effort to fling it off my hand, learned how to throw it back.
I only had one problem. I would feel the heat and fling it out into the universe haphazardly. Many times this caused more bombs to come my way, because, of course, innocent people would be hit. So now I had to figure out a way to stop the haphazardness. This year I finally, once and for all, learned how to do that.
I learned how to catch the bomb, but hold it gently – like any member of a bomb squad would – then take one slow step forward and with a careful underhand pitch, throw it right to God. After all, who else would know just where that bomb should end up? Only Him. He knows if it’s supposed to obliterate someone else’s heart or it’s just supposed to simply be diffused. This way my target is always sure and I only have to remember to pitch it one direction.
I listen often to a wonderful song called No Matter What by Kerrie Roberts. There’s one line in it that keeps it on my playlist:
“I’m running back to your promises, lord that’s all I can hold onto. I gotta say this is taken me by surprise, but nothing surprises you. Before a heartache can ever touch my life, it has to go through your hands….”
Knowing that God first handled the bomb before I get it, is the source of my inner strength. I now know how to live with complete faith and trust that I can catch the bombs, handle them with gentle control, and pitch them back to God without worry. It’s called spring training, and I learn to throw strikes every time.
And so, as another day goes by, today I’m not up for a game of catch – I just want to mow my lawn, rake some leaves, and enjoy some good food and football later on with my husband – ok God? …and I have written.
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