I was once that pathetic pancake.

I’m drawing from some of my most exquisitely painful memories to write scenes in "Strong."

I say "exquisite" because these adventures began in a deceptively stationary sling of the chemistry catapult. Oh, that fast and fiery flight... where the "painful" part comes later.

They're hiding together for a first real kiss, with senses heightened and laser-sharp learning... "When I do this, that happens."

From the rooftops I'm yelling "mercy, mercy," for every young person caught climbing into the catapult's sling... For the soaring sinner and the pathetic pancake...

God's love is sweet mercy for the millionth mistake. His joy is pure dynamite powering a covenant cannon with an eternal trajectory.

'Tis strange to sing His matchless love by writing such awkward, even cringy, scenes of bumbling youth.

Soar-splat, my young characters. Jesus is coming.