August 23, 2016 (Tuesday)
The bumblebee can fly. We all have seen it fly. So it flies. Back in the 1930’s someone declared that the laws of aerodynamics show that the bumblebee cannot fly, but subsequent research shows that the bumblebee is in fact obeying all the laws of aerodynamics. Nevertheless, it makes a good story to say that even though it’s not supposed to be able to fly, it flies anyway.
I was reading about Irving Berlin, who wrote more than 1500 songs. The article said that he could not read or write music scores. He taught himself to play the piano, but others wrote down on paper the music he composed. Obviously, a person who cannot read or write music cannot be one of the world’s most successful composers. However, the facts tell us something different.
I knew a fellow student when I was in college who was an expert pianist, but had never had lessons. I heard him give his testimony one evening and he said that he had always wanted to play the piano but did not know how. He had surgery and died on the table. He came back to life and was able to play the piano without being taught. Didn’t happen? Yes, it did. He could play any instrument placed in his hands. He was a friend of mine. I believe his story. Again, the facts belie any belief that he could not do what he did so well.
How about the rest of us? Are we able to do the impossible? Maybe. Maybe not, but we are able to do more and better things than we normally do.
Sometimes it’s difficult merely to cope with life, which has a way of throwing obstacles in our path, causing us to be discouraged and even tempting us to give up. In such an hour, we need to remember the words of the Apostle Paul, who said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Here is his complete statement: “.. I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13 NKJV).
We may not become miracle workers, but we can meet life head-on and prove ourselves to be “more than conquerors through Christ” (Romans 8:37). We can do more than we think we can. Remember the old slogan I used to hear a lot as a kid: “Cain’t never did nuthin’.”