The Purposeful Fall

The Purposeful Fall

All who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm. Proverbs 1:33

Have you ever been afraid to try for fear you will fail? If you confess that to my physical therapist friend, Doug, he will tell you about one of his former patients. The man had been in the rehab unit for several weeks recovering from an accident, but he still clutched a rail as he shuffled his feet.

The doctors insisted he had no physical reason for his tiny, cautious steps, but he ignored their pronouncements. So they assigned Doug to him.

During their first session, Doug watched the patient take fear-filled steps.

“Why do you walk like that?”

“I’m afraid I’ll fall,” the man replied.

“Did you ever fall when you were a kid?”

“Sure, lots of times,” the man said.

“Where?”

“On the grass.”

Doug nodded. “How about when you were older? Did you ever fall then?”

The man smiled. “Sure. I played softball. I was always falling—diving after a ball, going for a base.”

Doug nodded again. “Okay, we’re going for a walk on the hospital lawn, and I’m going to trip you. You’re going to fall. And you’re going to see it’s all right.”

The man wasn’t sure he could do that, but Doug coaxed him outside. As they walked along, talking about their favorite sports teams, Doug suddenly tripped his patient, just as he had promised he would, and the man sprawled in the grass.

For a moment he lay still, as if he were mentally checking for broken bones. Everything was intact. He stood up and grinned at Doug. Then he bounced up and down and even gave a little jump. He was going to be just fine.

I wonder how often I’ve been like that man, disappointed by life and afraid to try again. What would happen if I invited the Lord to walk with me?

—SANDRA

Lord, like that man who was afraid to walk, I want safety. I want comfort. Help me to take your hand. And help me to know you are walking beside me, even if life trips me.

We must not be deterred from embracing the blessed privilege of divine guidance by a dread of the dangers that environ it.

—HANNAH WHITALL SMITH (1832–1911), QUAKER LAY SPEAKER AND AUTHOR