“Your Arms Too Short to Box with God” was a musical based on the Biblical Book of Matthew. It originally ran on Broadway for just about 2 years (December 1976 – January 1978), totaling 429 performances fifty years ago next year. During a 1982 revival of the show, Al Green and Patti LaBelle appeared in leading roles.
Now, I’m not professing that I know a lot about this musical. To be totally transparent, I’ve never even seen it nor am I familiar with any of the tunes from it. But the title always inspired me, and I use it quite often metaphorically.
Those who may be familiar with my writing would know that I am not traditionally religious. Although born, raised, and well-indoctrinated as a Catholic, I have not subscribed to any formal religious practice in very many years. However, I do consider myself to be a spiritual person and approach life with a high degree of inner consciousness. So, within that framework, that show title has always taken on an extremely specific and important meaning to me.
Life is full. And by that, I mean if we’re lucky we get to experience it in all its “vastness.” A full life not only includes great joy but devastating sorrow as well. And they are often closely associated with one another. A perfect example of this is owning a pet. Most of us have been blessed with the companionship of an animal. I know that I have. But those of us who have experienced this special relationship know that our physical time together is limited. And the loss of a pet can be as painful as losing a sibling. But we cannot have one without the other. We can’t know their joy without feeling the sting of their loss too. This is the Yin and Yang of life.
Still, we look for answers as to “why” things happen. We need to understand on a rational level in the hope that if we do, the pain will ease. This most often is the case when tragedy strikes and there is no logic that our minds can hold onto to give us some sort of explanation that will provide some level of comfort. In these cases, there is no real “why”, there only “is.”
That’s when “Your Arms Too Short to Box with God” comes in. For me, it means to let go of things that you are not meant to understand but must come to accept. You can rage, cry, and spit but that cannot change the outcome. Only acceptance will provide inner peace. The universe and everything that happens within and beyond is far too vast to truly comprehend on a level only meant for the “gods.” As we exist today, our arms are far too short. Perhaps, in time and with lots of practice, we can reach that “god-like” level.
This notion of reaching enlightenment as it can most accurately be described, can be found in most religions, particularly those from the East. However, one needn’t be religious in a formal sense to understand and eventually accept this concept. Our lives become fuller, richer, easier when we learn that we cannot control everything. Nor can we fully understand why certain things happen that defy logical or explanation. As much as we struggle to find the answer, there is peace in letting go. Why? Because your arms too short to box with God.
Frank LoBuono is a Nyack Resident, photographer, blogger and retired CBS News journalist.
Editor’s note: The views expressed in this article are those of this independent writer and not the Nyack News & Views editorial staff. We welcome submissions from anybody who is interested in publishing their thoughts, ideas and perspectives about issues facing our community, both large and small. Please send submissions to info@nyacknewsandviews.com.
