Hold On Tight

I've been one of those wallies in wellies today.

 

Yes, I looked silly, but I thought I would have looked even sillier if I had fallen on the ice. 

 

Yesterday I found myself clinging on to some helpfully placed railings as I skated along the pavement.  It reminded me of my traumatising ice-skating experiences as a child which were mostly spent gripping onto the edge of the rink and edging my way round.

 

Even in wellies, I have been slipping and sliding all over the place today: it has been very risky underfoot. It has been difficult to get a grip.

 

In the same way, it can sometimes feel a bit slippery underfoot in a spiritual sense, too.  It can feel as though you are sliding out of control and can't quite get a grip on anything.

 

The Bible describes God's love as being what will hold us steady when the ground is slippery:

 

         "The minute I said, 'I’m slipping, I’m falling,
         your love, God, took hold and held me fast."

 

        [Psalm 94:18 MSG]

 

 

This verse doesn't say that God made the ground smooth, or that He took away the 'slipperiness'.  Instead, He promises to hold our hands tightly as we walk over the slippery parts of life.

 

So that rather than clinging onto the edge of the ice-rink of life, we can let go and trust in God's love which will always keep a tight hold on us.

 

 

 

False Start

As someone who is ever-hopeful for snow, the weather forecast for this weekend has left me feeling rather excited. 

 

However, whilst I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of the white stuff, I heard an article on the radio yesterday about the problem that this sudden cold weather will cause to lots of wildlife.  Apparently with the recent milder weather, the birds and the bees have been mistaking the season for the beginning of spring and have been starting their spring-time activities.  What's more, there are many flowers and blossoms blooming in fields and gardens, which will be killed off if it snows.

 

This cold weather will come as a bit of a shock.

 

Life can be a bit like that too.

 

Sometimes we feel sure that we have turned a corner, that spring is on the way.  Things in our lives seem to be finally working out, our lives seem on track.

 

And then the snow comes.  Winter returns.

 

A false start.

 

It is always difficult to pick ourselves back up again after a fall or to continue after a disappointment.  When we fail and fall, it is difficult to try, try, try again.  Instead, we feel like giving up.  Like curling up and hiding and not bothering anymore.

 

But the Bible says that when we fall, God will always pick us back up.  And with His strength, we can continue.

 

        "If the Lord delights in a man's way,

        he makes his steps firm;

        though he stumble, he will not fall,

        for the Lord upholds him with his hand."

 

        [Psalm 37:23-24 NIV]

 

 

We may fall and endure many Winters, but Spring will always come again.

 

 

 

 

 

When You Fall

I was just reflecting on what to write about today as I popped out to the supermarket.  I crouched down to look at the bread, stood up and, seconds later, found myself sprawling on the floor.

 

A stray puddle claimed me as its victim.

 

It took me completely by surprise - one minute I was thinking about bread, the next I was on the floor.

 

I don't think we ever get used to falling over.

 

I don't think we ever get used to that feeling of complete powerlessness and surprise.  We realise what is happening and we also realise that we are incapable of stopping it in the same moment.  So we try and brace ourselves, but there isn't enough time.

 

Thankfully several people rushed to my side and helped me to my feet.  They helped me to a chair and got me some frozen peas and made sure I was alright before I came home.  I didn't know them, but they helped me and supported me.

 

The Bible says,

 

"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.  But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.  Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm.  But how can one be warm alone?  A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.  Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

 

[Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT] 

 

Thankfully when I took a tumble, there were people around to help me to my feet.   They reached out and helped. 

 

If I had been alone, I would have got myself up and home again, but I think more than my legs would have been bruised: we need other people to support and strengthen us.  We need to look out for each other and support each other and, most importantly, pick each other up when we fall - both literally and metaphorically.

 

These are the words of the chorus of one of my favourite songs ['By Your Side' by Tenth Avenue North]:

 

        And I'll be by your side
        Wherever you fall
        In the dead of night
        Whenever you call
        And please don't fight
        These hands that are holding you
        My hands are holding you

 

 We weren't meant to walk this life alone.