Caution: Stumble May Result in Celebration
by Leslie Daniel
Have you ever said, “I did not see that coming?” I certainly have, and I suspect you have as well.
I “stumbled” across a cartoon the other day of a woman who had fallen flat on her face. The captions read, “HOW TO FIND OUT IF YOU’RE OLD. FALL DOWN. If people laugh, you are young…if people panic, you are old!" It made me laugh when I saw it, but two years prior it wouldn’t have been funny at all. Why? Because two years before I read it, I unexpectedly fell down! Right in the front entrance of a large store, I twisted my ankle on the wet floor and went down. Now, I wish I could say I got the “young response,” but I did not! It was embarrassing and painful, but the part I really didn’t see coming was the consequences of my spill!
As it turned out, I chipped my ankle bone. It required months of surprisingly painful physical therapy to recover my mobility. I also learned some unexpected things during that time. First, I learned using crutches is an art form; one I never mastered. Secondly, it’s highly likely I have a shoe addiction. I was only able to wear two different pairs of shoes with my brace on, and it made me very cranky. They were not my favorite style.
I have fully recovered from my spill now. My family was wonderful, and the members of the Women’s Ministry team were especially kind. However, we have had some heavy moments over these last few years, and frankly I can honestly say, “I did not see that coming!”
In 2018, our Women’s Ministry team was holding our annual planning meeting for the coming year of 2019. We settled on a theme fairly quickly, which was nice. Then someone spoke up and said, “Hey, I have a suggestion for 2020. Let’s go with the theme of ‘20/20 Vision,’ and Hebrews 12:2 as the theme verse. We just can’t let this opportunity go by!" She was right of course, but we couldn’t see what 2020 held in store.
The year 2020 was to be our 42nd year of hosting the statewide women’s retreat. We had only cancelled this retreat one time before in its history, and that was due to the tragic events of 9/11 in 2001. Yet, here we were again, in a situation where, through no fault of our own, we were being forced to make a decision to cancel our beloved retreat. The decision was made. We cancelled the retreat and soon realized, we needed a … “RE-VISION!” But what would that mean? (Revision: to look over again in order to correct or improve; to make a new; amended; improved; or up-to-date version). So, we had to accept that what was once done one way, was now in need of a different method of getting the job done. We needed to amend our plans. Just like my shoe style … after my fall!
Acceptance is marked by a certain kind of joy, a joy that comes from the knowledge things are “as they should be,” even though they are not necessarily what the person wants. Just as I had to accept changes if I wanted to walk normally again, the team had to accept the need for “RE-VISION.” I want to encourage you to remember this: the point of revising is to rebuild, to replace the old and rebuild on the firmer foundation! We revise to replace what was, with what brings life, heals, and honors God.
Hebrews chapter 12 starts off with “therefore,” which in this instance means, “because of what I just was talking about in the previous chapter, you need to think about the following.” The writer of the book is referencing the impressive group of heroic Old Testament figures listed in chapter 11. These are the remarkable men and women whose stories are mentioned there to encourage and challenge our faith. That is why chapter 11 is sometimes referred to as the “Hall of Faith.”
In a recent study on the book of Hebrews, I was challenged and reminded that the Bible is a book about God, not me. Those heroes of the faith listed in chapter 11, are talked about to inspire us to keep going. Their stories are told to spur us on, to motivate us along the way, when it gets hard. They are called a “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1).
The “cloud” is not necessarily standing around cheering me or you on. (Which is how I like to picture it.) No, they are written in the pages of the Bible, to remind us how God used them, and because of their faithfulness, they can now testify to the greatness of God. They aren’t witnesses to our greatness, or cheering for our accomplishments, but they are witnesses to, and testify to, the greatness of our God!
So, what are we to do? He gives us the answer in Hebrews 12:2, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith." Our challenge is simple when we are faced with an “I didn’t see that coming” situation. First, we check our eyes, are they fixed on Jesus? If so, we can confidently revise by rebuilding on the firmer foundation, replacing the old with what brings life, heals, and honors God. There we will find true joy, and great cause for celebration.
I think that’s what the team did too. We set our eyes upon Jesus, and we began focusing on how to RE-VISION in our new reality to honor God. When next we were able to hold the retreat, it was indeed a life giving, and healing celebration for the participants, which honored our God! And though I may be in the “old” category now, I can celebrate. Why? Because my ankle is stronger than ever, and so is my faith in Him, and his plans for His Church.
