Skating for Life
Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 8:17 pmWhen I was young, my Mom took me to the roller-skate rink as a weekend activity. I didn't know how to skate, nor did Mom sitck around to show me how. But, every weekend she took me to the rink to skate as if it was a life skill I somehow needed to learn. I met others sitting on the bench, who like me, wanted to learn how to skate. After a couple of weeks, I started conversations with kids from all experience levels curious as to why I came just to sit on the bench. Of course, several offered to teach me how to skate, but I just wasn't ready. I had a fear of falling and I didn't trust that they would keep me from falling and embarrassing myself. As weeks went by, more of the "bench-sitters" were learning how to skate and I felt kinda lonely sitting by myself.
One week, an older girl offered to take me out on the floor. I don't know what it was about her but I trusted her. Maybe because she didn't simply offer but extended her hand and pulled me up on my feet. She didn't really give me a chance to say, No! Out we went, she balanced me between her legs and guided me along the way. When I started to fall, she kept me up by supporting me under my arms. I started grasping the concept and started stepping on my own. I could tell she knew because my hold on her was less and she gradually started letting me go on my own. I got confident, but it was short lived because other kids were falling in front of me and didn't know how to change directions or stop. I met my first obstruction and down I started. But, before I hit the ground, like a proud eagle, my teacher swooped in and broke my fall.
I eventually learned to skate forward and backward, at the skating rink and on the sidewalk at home. I went skating with our church group last year after being off the rinks for decades and I still knew how to skate, although a little rusty. But the interesting thing about it, I was able to teach some of the kids in our church group how to skate. And you are probably wondering what the point of this story is. My faith development has been a lot like learning how to skate. I came to know God at a very young age. NO one told me how this was supposed to come about, I was a just a kid.
God comes to us in His time and He knows when we are ready, all we have to do is believe and follow Him, it is our choice. He never leaves us or forsakes us, He is always there. Just as my skate teacher, He will never give us more than we can bear, and will carry us when we are unable to walk on our own. He loves us and expects us to grow so that we can spread His Word and His love! Faith is life and as we develop in life, so does our faith. We are to live by His example, but we are not Him. We will stumble along the way, we are sinners and live in a sinful world. God is always there to break our fall. And when we go astray, for however long, He accepts us back with His arms wide open. Just let Him carry our weight (repent) and allow Him to guide the way (submit). We, the redeemed are saved by Grace. We are all One Body in Him, Christ Jesus, Amen!
One week, an older girl offered to take me out on the floor. I don't know what it was about her but I trusted her. Maybe because she didn't simply offer but extended her hand and pulled me up on my feet. She didn't really give me a chance to say, No! Out we went, she balanced me between her legs and guided me along the way. When I started to fall, she kept me up by supporting me under my arms. I started grasping the concept and started stepping on my own. I could tell she knew because my hold on her was less and she gradually started letting me go on my own. I got confident, but it was short lived because other kids were falling in front of me and didn't know how to change directions or stop. I met my first obstruction and down I started. But, before I hit the ground, like a proud eagle, my teacher swooped in and broke my fall.
I eventually learned to skate forward and backward, at the skating rink and on the sidewalk at home. I went skating with our church group last year after being off the rinks for decades and I still knew how to skate, although a little rusty. But the interesting thing about it, I was able to teach some of the kids in our church group how to skate. And you are probably wondering what the point of this story is. My faith development has been a lot like learning how to skate. I came to know God at a very young age. NO one told me how this was supposed to come about, I was a just a kid.
God comes to us in His time and He knows when we are ready, all we have to do is believe and follow Him, it is our choice. He never leaves us or forsakes us, He is always there. Just as my skate teacher, He will never give us more than we can bear, and will carry us when we are unable to walk on our own. He loves us and expects us to grow so that we can spread His Word and His love! Faith is life and as we develop in life, so does our faith. We are to live by His example, but we are not Him. We will stumble along the way, we are sinners and live in a sinful world. God is always there to break our fall. And when we go astray, for however long, He accepts us back with His arms wide open. Just let Him carry our weight (repent) and allow Him to guide the way (submit). We, the redeemed are saved by Grace. We are all One Body in Him, Christ Jesus, Amen!