The Second Fall

Yesterday marks the second time I've fallen in the last two weeks. Hardly even two weeks. The first time, I tripped over some concrete sticking up on the sidewalk in front of the market. My groceries flew to the ground and I landed painfully on my left side. No bruises, but a sore leg and scratches on my ankle. Two kind strangers, seeing me crash, helped me up and gathered my bags for me.

Yesterday, the second time, my husband and I were walking the last few feet of a muddy trail, having finished a lovely hike. I wasn't wearing my best shoes for the activity, they had rather little traction. I was traversing a particularly muddy patch and slipped, landing again on my left side, much harder than my fall at the market. This time, though having no scratches, I am left with a great deal more soreness. I had an awful headache, much like whiplash, and my back hurt in several places, as did my left hip and left thigh. What came to my mind this second time were the Stations of the Cross which we prayed on Good Friday.

The prayers very vividly described the pain and loneliness of Christ as He fell not one, not two, but three times on the way to His crucifixion. How devastated He must have felt. I had mud all over my left shoe, but how much worse was it for Jesus, covered in dirt, sweat, blood, and saliva from those who spit upon Him. I am taking today to rest, I slept in until ten o'clock and plan to do no strenuous activity. But there was no rest for Jesus. He had to keep going on, and the end of that road for Him was torture and death. And He went through that for you and me.

Instead of feeling embarrassed or upset that I had fallen, I felt humbled. My little trial is nothing compared to what Jesus endured, and even now He bears our troubles for us.

I am struggling to find a comfortable position that is not just lying flat on my back. When I sit, my lower back is strained. But it's good to remember that comfort is not the goal of this life. We are called to unite our sufferings with those of Christ. I'm working on it.