The other night we went to go see Kung Fu Panda, which they were showing at my son's school (sit on the grass and watch the movie projected on a wall). I was expecting just a fun family activity, but ended up in a rather thoughtful mood because underneath the childish plot of the movie I discovered a very deep and profound personal message.

Without giving away the plot of the movie entirely, I will say that it is your average 'young clumsy boy turns out to be a kung fu hero by defeating a kung fu master that turned over to the dark side' story. My son noted that there was a lot of fighting in the movie (he disapproves of fighting); my mental response was "duh, it's a kung fu cartoon." My daughter thought the panda was silly; my analytical mind was trying to figure out approximately how old the main-character-panda was supposed to be in the story so as to determine if the silliness was age-related or merely cartoon-related. My husband noted that Jackie Chan was listed in the credits.

Anyhow, the really profound message that was at the heart of the plotline was this: you were made to be you. You will be chosen to fulfill the destiny made for you, even though it'll probably take a lot of convincing for you to figure out that you're really made just perfectly for it. You will never be happy trying to be like someone else or believing that your destiny and theirs should be switched. And once you get over wondering why the heck you are where you are, and start believing in yourself and your abilities, you will find great power in the freedom of self-acceptance. God made you just right for the situation He will put you in, even if you don't understand right away. Yes, all this from a silly panda movie.

Actually, it was just the right message for me at the time. I seem to have been spending a lot of time lately wondering what's wrong with me and wishing I was somebody else (no one in particular, just not me). I don't feel right anymore in my job, in my ministry, in my dreams and hopes, even in my own skin. If only I could be more disciplined, or more musically talented, or a better mother, or talk less, or exercise more, or even just get with the program and give up on my silly goals. You know the drill, you've probably been here yourself a time or two. Welcome to Depression. So I really needed a wake-up call to remind me that I'm OK just being me. That there's nothing wrong with me, and I'm making the best with what I have. That even with all my faults and short-comings, there is the perfect plan for me and it will be really great. In fact, what I see as faults might actually end up to be advantages. I just can't stop short and never find out what all this is really coming to. My requirement is to not give up.

So thanks go out to Po Panda and Jesus Christ for reminding me that I am special just the way I am.

PS Thanks also to those who have been praying for my son. He recovered totally from the scarlet fever and only had minimal peeling. Now he's just as active as ever again!