CALL DON'T FALL

Everywhere I look I see in bold caps CALL DON’T FALL. The remainder of the message is modified depending on the location of the sign. On the bulletin board across from my bed, it encourages me to call for help to go to the bathroom. In the bathroom, it encourages me to call for help to get off the commode.

I’m in a rehabilitation hospital wearing a bright yellow wristband that says FALL RISK. They’re a week too late. I have repeatedly answered the question, “What happened to you?!” with “I stepped off a high curb and broke my ankles.” (Yes, plural.)

While it’s true a few adventurers injure themselves trying to jump a motorcycle over twelve cars and through a flaming hoop, I got hurt doing something ordinary. Walking and talking at the same time. I have been most diligent to prevent falling down our huge staircase at school. I always cling to the handrail with a firm grip. I prevented the injury I anticipated, but failed to anticipate the damage of an eight inch fall.

Experiencing a physical fall and its consequences makes me consider spiritual falls and their consequences. I would no more think I’m headed for a spiritual fall than I thought I was heading for a physical fall, but Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” (NLT) 

The truth is, none of us is sin proof. We are all fall risks.

Which makes me really like the CALL DON’T FALL signs. They go on to promise, “Your safety is our priority and we have time to help you.” I am blessed with a network of Christian sisters and brothers at church, at work, in my critique groups, and on Facebook. They live Galatians 6:2, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” It’s like they’re all wearing tee shirts that read, “I have time to help you.”

As believers, let’s make it our priority to look out for each other, physically and spiritually.

UPDATE:  I have had my second ankle surgery and will soon be home, When I am back on my feet, I'll return to rehab and punctuate those signs.

Will there be a quiz?

            My brother bought my debut young adult novel, Surviving Meemaw, and asked if there would be a quiz. Of course. I’m a teacher. I’m famous for my quizzes.

Circle the correct answer(s).

1. Who is Laney’s romantic interest?

Josh-hoo-ah, the puppeteer

Calvin, the artist

Corey, the freshman

Dalton, the cheater

2. Where does Meemaw shop for her elastic-waist, polyester pants?

Bon Worth

Burlington

TJ Maxx

Macy’s

3. Which government surplus food item is served in Millburgh Christian Academy’s cafeteria?

Tater tots

Macaroni and cheese

Overcooked peas

Meatballs

4. Where is Laney’s daddy?

Iraq

Afghanistan

Arkansas

Jamaica

5. What does Laney call her two new friends?

Fat and Skinny

Tall and Short

Deep and Wide

Curly and Straight

6. What brand of ice cream does Laney serve to Josh-hoo-ah after puppet shows?

Turkey Hill

Breyers

Ben and Jerry’s

Blue Bunny

7. On a scale of 1 to 10, how technologically savvy is Meemaw?

10

5

0

-5

 

8. Where is Laney’s mama?

Iraq

Afghanistan

Classified

Read the book and find out.

9. How has Meemaw’s driving not yet caused her death?

Other drivers give her a wide berth.

She drives a tank.

Her yellow PT Cruiser has multiple air bags.

“Oh, honey, we’re perfectly safe. Jesus is looking out for us.”

10. What does Laney find scary about living in Meemaw’s house?

A room full of beady-eyed puppets

Fox News Channel is always on.

The Felix-the-Cat kitchen clock with moving tail and eyes

Meemaw

You can—and absolutely should—buy your very own copy of Surviving Meemaw at www.amazon.com for only $4.99! That’s less than a slice of pie and a cup of coffee at The Diner, and the service is much faster.

Now we are six

Today I turned six again. This time there’s a zero after it. But what’s a zero? Zilch. Zip. Nothing.

I don’t know what time of day I arrived, and there’s no one who remembers to remind me. I do know I arrived two weeks late (which may explain my proclivity to tardiness) and that my mom, already mother to three children under five years old, hung wet laundry on the line between contractions. So I think I arrived during daylight hours on a sunny day.

Genesis tells me God created the heavens and earth in six days and then rested on the seventh, blessing and hallowing it. I’d like to take my cue for my seventh decade from God. I want my sixties to be blessed, holy, and restful.

I don’t mean restful in the sense of ceasing activities. God has given me some things to do—teaching and writing, to name two—and I sense I’m not finished yet. Rather in the midst of life, I want the rest Jesus offered, soul rest from the Lord of the Sabbath.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28 – 30, NIV

I wonder what that looks like. Trusting more and worrying less? Singing more and complaining less? Giving more and demanding less?

I expect I’ll frequently mess up on this. Please be patient with me. I’m only six.

Samaritan in a Pickup

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”
And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain woman went down from Watsontown to Milton, and the brand new wheel bearing in her 2002 Kia Rio melted and smoked, leaving the car half dead next to a corn field.

“Now by chance certain drivers came down that road. And when they saw her, they passed by on the other side. And when she phoned home, she cried unto an answering machine.

“But a certain bearded man, as he journeyed in a pickup truck, came where she was. And when he saw her, he had compassion. So he crawled around on the ground and examined the tires. And he studied the skid marks the tires had left on Route 405. And he sniffed the smoke and shook his head sadly. And he set her in his own vehicle, and drove her home. And behold, he was not a pervert, and did not assault her, but drove away promptly.

“So who do you think was neighbor to her whose Kia fell among defective wheel bearings?”

And he said, “He who showed mercy on her.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

There are still compassionate strangers in Northumberland County and many other locations. I thank the bearded Samaritan who rescued me.

Do you have a Good Samaritan story? Please send it to me.

Based on Luke 10:25 – 37, NKJV (www.biblegateway.com) and real life.

A Puppet King

            While in Jamaica early last March, one of my favorite songs we performed with the puppets was “Josiah.” We’d ask for an eight-year-old boy from the audience to come to the front and wear a paper crown during the song. The lyrics tell about Judah’s King Josiah, who began his reign while only eight years old. You can read all about him in 2 Chronicles 34 and 35.

            Judah had another boy king less well known, Joash. You can read about him in 2 Chronicles 22, 23, and 24. Though separated by two hundred years, Joash and Josiah began their reigns in similar circumstances: Each boy, younger than ten years old, lived in an idolatrous society. A priest, Jehoida, mentored Joash, while a prophetess, Huldah, advised Josiah. Each repaired the Temple, and saw idolatry decline and the nation return to God.

            There the similarities end.

            It seems Joash was a puppet:  His performance reflected the man controlling him. After the priest’s death, Joash followed the ungodly officials of Judah, abandoning the Temple and worshipping idols. He even murdered Jehoida’s son who rebuked him. God’s judgment followed.

            Conversely, Josiah’s faith was his own. “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength…” (2 Kings 23:25)

            In the New Testament, young Timothy could have become a puppet, controlled by Grandma, Mama, or Paul, but the Apostle deemed Timothy’s faith authentic:  “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5)

            Working with young people—whether teens at school or five-year-olds at church—I face the same challenge:  I want them to follow Christ for real, not because I or their parents or some other adult controls them.