I FELL...BUT GOD!

I love autumn!  I mentioned my passion concerning this season last month.  Autumn, in my mind, encompasses the end of July through November.  I wait upon this time of the year with much anticipation.  But, what does autumn mean?  It’s “a period of maturity verging on…DECLINE”!   That’s cheery!?  I guess this is why we have labeled autumn “fall”.  Color has drained from the leaves, they’ve dried out, and fall from their host in a wistful dance to the earth.  The beauty of autumn ends in death throes.  Oh my!

As I’m writing, I’m thinking that “fall” is not such a grand name for a season!  It’s precarious!  “Autumn” can be looked upon rapturously because its meaning remains hidden, for the most part, in the splendor of such seasonal drama.  Don’t you think?  But, “fall”?  Who thought to label this crossroad in time “fall”? 

You need to know that I’m prone to FALLING. . .

When I was five years old, living in the Bronx, NYC, God’s hand upon me became evident.  I FELL down a sewer!  I began asking questions about God.  That fall eventually led to my coming to know the Lord 12 years later.

Every Tuesday over the past 12 years, God has given me the wonderful opportunity of teaching a Bible study at a retirement center with an 85% Jewish population.  As I enter the facility each week, I truly feel as if I’m walking into Jewish NY! I LOVE it. I LOVE the people. One afternoon, after sharing with the folks who attend the Bible study that laughter is healthy...after conveying that he who is of a merry heart (inward condition of the heart; occupied with joy - Eccl. 5:20) has a continual feast, I challenged them to ask God each day, “So, what’s funny today, Lord?”  I have no idea why I was relating a merry heart with jocularity (is that a word?).  BUT, I did.  That was Tuesday.  Wednesday I woke up and asked God, “What’s funny today, Lord?” Figured if I challenged the residents at the retirement center to do this, it would only be right for me to follow through with asking the question as well.  While hiking Pinnacle Peak that morning and focusing on discovering glee, I royally fell down the mountain and ripped up my arm and bruised my palms and knees.  In the midst of the pain, I was laughing!  I asked God, “What’s funny?” and He showed me! 

Cascading down the mountain and bleeding all the way to the ranger station occurred a week after I had caught my foot in the hem of my long sweat pants and hit the tile in our hallway – HARD!!!  That week I had to perform drama at a ladies luncheon and act out a FALL!  How appropriate.

In between the genuine tile fall, the pretend drama fall, and the fall down the mountain, I was in Tucson speaking at a woman’s retreat.  How lovely it was to spend the evening prior to the retreat in a comfortable guest room at the home of one of the ladies.  I enjoyed a glorious night’s sleep.  The alarm rang at 5 a.m. the next morning, I reached over to shut it off and…FELL out of bed!!!!  It was so funny.  I couldn’t stop laughing.

God has a sense of humor, don’t you think?

I was reminded that we are indeed in a spiritual battle when I fell out of my friends’ parked van as we prepared to travel to Jewish neighborhoods advertising a Chanukah/Christmas Celebration.  My hands were full of literature.  As I stepped up into the vehicle, my legs gave way beneath me and I toppled backwards, falling onto the driveway.  The scattered literature was collected, I brushed myself off, and we motored toward the first stop.

Thank you for walking with me on this path of ministry among Jewish people.  I recently read that a “walk” is always living on the verge of a fall!  Have you ever analyzed walking?  As you take a step, you nearly fall as you allow your body to go off balance.  After catching yourself with your other foot, you shift to the foot with which you began – and you nearly fall again.  The reality of physically wandering through this world correlates so graphically with risk, dependence, and faith in God as we walk with Him.

Truthfully, this season, the “fall,” is even more endearing to me.  It reminds me of my weakness and God’s mighty strength.  Bowing down before God and adoring Him is vividly portrayed in my mind!  And, my heart is overflowing with thanksgiving and joy!  Scripture speaks of falling down on our knees before Him, coming before Him in humility.  And, in the death throes of life, the promise of resurrection is proclaimed!  Glory hallelujah to our majestic Creator and loving Redeemer!

So looking forward to an exhilarating fall!

Rejoicing in Him,

Cathy Wilson

cathylouwilson@live.com