cannonballing

cannonballing in the Mediterranean outside Montenegro

it’s not necessarily for fun

it’s to mark a moment

you’ve been so brave

when you didn’t know how to be

but just knew you were the definition

of such a child-like, lion-roaring kind of word.

you repeated this over and over

in the ambulance ride off the coast of georgia

as the paramedics and doctors discussed

what this was and how to proceed

you would walk with a limp

over cobblestone streets in europe

because you don’t get these days back —

cannonballing.

you’ve received a call you least expected

and the timing of it is bad

no one has time for this call or the new path forward

you’re being so brave

you’re surrounding yourself with people who will fight with you

who will cry with you

pray with you

and do literally everything they know to do but be able to take it from you

but you call on the God who heals, protects, shrinks, makes a way —

cannonballing.

the house is quieter.

he’s not coming back

he left earth early

it’s her first time away at college

holidays will be her first return

he’s here but things are different

she’s decided to leave the faith and this includes you

you’re brave

as you choose to remember the sweet memories

and build a new season

and pick up a new hobby

and keep pouring out

because there’s so much more life in you —

cannonballing.

and when the doctors who have given you IVs

and removed stitches

and looked at your stingray laceration

with bewilderment and puzzlement

and say you can get back in the water

if you want to —

cannonballing!

just because i experienced pain in one body of water

doesn’t mean i live in fear of all bodies of water —

cannonballing

i was brave when there was pain

you are brave in your pain

we look for moments to nod our heads

and smile at life —

cannonballing.

to cherish this day

and the breath in our lungs

because it’s enough that

Jesus loves us and died to save us

and rose again and is alive to free us

He gives us every reason for —

cannonballing!

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