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!