I fell a few weeks back. Not that I do that a lot. But, on the odd occasion I do. I wi s h e d I could say it was an age thing or maybe, my knee replacem ents that caused it. I can’t though. It was a totally avoidable occurrence and my stubbornness, and maybe not putting to use the smartness I learned in college and some good old fashioned common sense allowed my demise.
My fall was not an easy, gentle fall. It was a hard fall that made me do a face plant to the carpeted floor. You see, it was on a Sunday after an all church fellowship. I was going from the Fellowship Hall through the main building to my office. I had my phone and keys one hand and a cup of coffee in the other while walking. Upon going into main building, I needed to go through the sanctuary. The lights were off and it was quite dark with the doors closed. But, hey, I had walked through there before with the lights off, no problem. So, I opened the door, got my bearing for the door leading to the office. Straight line and I’m there. Walk in, door closed and it got dark. But I have my bearing so I’m good. Almost there and… I hooked my foot on the front row of chairs and before I know it, MAN DOWN!!! I fall – and hard. (Don’t remember falling that hard before.) I go down flat. I hit my face to the carpet, my keys go flying one way, my coffee goes another way and somehow I manage to keep my phone close. And, believe me, this was not the fall where you go down, jump up, dust yourself off and look to see if anyone saw you. Nope! I just lay there, stunned. I’m thinking, “Where did that chair come from?”
After a few moments, I begin to access the damage or rather check to see if there is any damage. My wrist hurt as well as elbows. My knees are also quite sore. My mouth and forehead have a slight rug burn going on. Overall I’m okay. I go to get up and, well, I can’t. Hmmm. Now what. I end up calling for some help to get up and they arrive.
Know what the first thing they do when they get to the church? No, not run to me or call to find out where I am. They turn on the lights! Amazing isn’t it. Then they locate me and have a minor freak out moment. I get help getting up and realized nothing was broken, bent or damaged except my pride. My wife, my deacons and a couple of church members all ask the same question. Now again, not am I all right but, “Why didn’t you turn the lights on?”
And, in all fairness, that is a good question. A question that I cannot find an acceptable answer. Shucks, I can’t even make up a good answer for why I didn’t.
All this reminded me of (there is a teachable moment in everything) our lives with God. How many times in life do we serve or follow God and we end up at a place where it is dark, a place we have been a hundred times before. We know we should let God lead, stop and think about what His word says about this particular incident. But, it will be alright this one time or I got this, been here, done this. We can save time and effort just plunging ahead rather than taking a few moments to turn on the lights so our path will be well lit and no harm may befall us.
We just forge straight ahead and will find ourselves falling flat and having to call to God or others for help. And, yes, you will have to answer the question, “Why didn’t you just turn on the lights?” Embarrassment, pride and ego bruised as well as your body, you get up and limp off thinking, “Well, that was not the smartest move I have ever made!”
Psalm 119:105 says that “thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” This verse has been a subtle reminder to me about my fall and my life. I need to turn on the lights as I go into darkness and I need to have God’s word lead me in life as I go through the darkness that is in it.
Looking for the light switch, Bro. Tim
