The Fallen

Psalm 34:18 -- "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

image: corbisimages.com

The tread on the old bike tires gripped the sidewalk that framed our house as I pumped my little legs as fast as they would go. In sheer excitement and with a grin from ear to ear, I prepared to round the corner behind the back porch. Only a couple of days ago I was unable to ride without Dad's hand on the back of my seat. But on this day - I was a pro! Can you believe it?!

Just as I turned the handlebars to the right and edged myself carefully around the dip in the walk-way - my front tire hit a large gravel rock. In the blink of an eye, the bike slid out from underneath me and I found myself somehow hitting the concrete - right knee first. The air went out of me in a big whoosh and the tears started to cascade.

I was more angry than hurt. Things had been going so well! Life was good! ...until that stupid rock appeared from out of nowhere and messed up my balance. [stupid, stupid rock!]

Getting up off the ground I noticed the blood trickle down my knee and I started to really steam about the situation. I picked the bike up and searched it for scratches [well, any new ones] and walked it around to the front of the house where Dad stood waiting for me.

"What happened to you?" He asked, looking down at my knee.

"Satan made me fall down when I hit a rock". I said vehemently - the anger pouring out of every syllable.

Dad took the bike and parked it up against the front porch, then picked me up and placed me on the large stone banister. "No honey, Satan didn't make you fall. Sometimes bad things just happen and there isn't anyone or anything to blame for them."

Wait ... what? How could that be?

Dad gently cleaned up my knee and put a bandage on it - all the while explaining how things aren't perfect for man anymore because of free will and sin. It was tough news to receive - to be sure - but Dad softly and tenderly doctored both my knee and my crushed spirit. He let me sit on his lap while he rocked me back and forth a bit - giving me comfort and encouragement. And then - he did something that surprised me. He told me to go back out front, pick up my bike, and do one more lap around the house.

But I didn't want to do another lap. I didn't care if I ever got back on the bike.

"Nope..." Dad said, gently but firmly "you can't give up on yourself - let's go do one more lap and then you can come in for a snack."

He followed me out the door and back to the front porch where my bike lay leaning against the banister. He then helped get on and gave me a little push to get me going.

Of course - after I realized I could make the rounds without falling again I put in more that just one lap and recovered the joy I thought I'd lost in riding. Something Daddy knew would happen - hence his instruction for me to get out there and try again.

Let's face it - our lives are not perfect. Sometimes things can be going along at a pretty good clip when from out of nowhere, we're hit with a rock in our path and we're sent skittering off track. We've no choice but to stop and deal with the fall. We experience pain. We experience sadness. Sometimes the hurt feels so deep that we can't imagine a moment in our lives when we won't be acutely aware of the loss. We just can't picture the sun popping out from behind dark clouds - ever again.

It feels safer to stay inside - curled up with a soft blanket pulled up over our heads - away from people and more pain.

Sometimes - we don't want to get back on the bike.

I love Psalm 34:18 for this - because we see that the Lord draws near to those who are hurting. Like my Dad did all those years ago - our Father comforts. He doesn't have to. I mean, He's up in Heaven where there is no pain, no falling, no anger, and no sadness. He could just stay there -- but Psalm very clearly says that He draws near to us. And think about this: God - more than anyOne - knows how dark real pain can truly get, yet He chooses to draw near to us when we experience it.

That's pretty amazing!

AND - He doesn't just stop there. The verse also says that the Lord saves those who are crushed in spirit. He doesn't end His focus on us after the bandage and ointment have been applied - He stays close and grants encouragement. Much like my Dad getting me to go back out there and bike one more lap - our Father guides us back out on the pathway. He won't let us get away with giving up. There are things He has planned for us and He knows that when He's by our side, and we let Him lead - we'll recover the joy in life that He's meant for us to have.

What greater love and grace is there?

Father, God - thank you so much for loving me so very deeply that you draw near to me when I am at my worst. Thank you for encouraging me to get back on the bike and for saving me when my spirit is crushed.