Sometimes you’re the windshield
Sometimes you’re the bug
Sometimes it all comes together baby
Sometimes you’re a fool in love
Sometimes you’re the louisville slugger
Sometimes you’re the ball
Sometimes it all comes together baby
Sometimes you’re going to lose it all
It’s just about that time –
World Series
for those of you that are into baseball.
I’m not, but I couldn’t help thinking about it when I just heard the song from which the lyrics above are taken –
The Bug – by Dire Straits
There is something else that made me thing of them. It happens a lot when I hear the song.
It’s got to do with whether it’s better to be
- the windshield or the bug
- the Louisville Slugger or the ball.
Given that a Home Run ball can be quite valuable if it’s from the right person / the right time – maybe that one’s not so obvious.
But it’s probably easier to get your attention than using Sometimes your the windshield as my title.
Seriously – would you have been as likely to even take a look?
Obviously though – being the windshield is a whole lot better than being the bug.
And with that frame of mind – being the Louisville Slugger would be better than being the ball.
Or is it?
And that’s what really “drove” me to write this. (Pun intended.)
I was working on another project when I came across some verses from James. That was just before the song came up on iTunes on my PC.
Ones that I know in my head are important.
But ones my heart doesn’t like to be reminded of. (I know – that’s not good grammar, but it’s what most people would say)
Trials and Temptations
Jas 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
Jas 1:9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Jas 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Jas 1:16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
If those aren’t bug and ball kinds of verses, I don’t know what is.
It’s hard to remember them sometimes.
Like when you feel like your constantly being splatted onto windshields.
Or when you’re the batting practice ball.
At least if you’re a ball in the big game – tied at the bottom of the ninth with two outs – you’ve got a chance for glory.
But when you’re the batting practice ball – you just get hit over and over – with no chance for glory.
Well – not your glory anyway.
It’s for the glory of the one holding that Louisville Slugger. That would be God.
As Paul wrote –
1Co 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Yeah – whether we are the bug – or the ball – be the bug or the ball for the glory of God.
And consider it pure joy.
I feel like I’ve had so much practice at being the practice ball –
I don’t know why I can’t feel much joy.
I fear the answer is in verses 3 and 4.
However – I still don’t want practice to end before I’m complete.
So I pray for perseverance.