Head Over Heels

I was around 10 years old. Mom gave me some money to get a few things she needed from the convenient store nearby. I stuffed the money in my pocket, grabbed my bike and off I went.

After I purchased the chosen items, I climbed on the bike with the grocery bag in one arm and headed for home. (I was clueless on what was about to happen. It was later known as "The Elm Street Incident".) But as far as I knew, all was well with the world.

I was an obedient child. Wasn't much trouble growing up. I had made my purchase for my mom. I didn't buy any candy for myself. I was feeling good. Soon I reached Elm Street and turned the corner. Elm Street was uphill on the way to the store. It was downhill on the way home. At the base of the hill was Sixth Street onto which Elm Street terminated.

Thanks to the law of gravity, I gained speed on the downhill. Instantly, it occurred to me (have you ever had something suddenly occur to you, causing your whole world to change?) I was filled with a sense of horror as I realized what I had done (you see, the only brakes on the bike were levers on the handlebars but only the RIGHT brake lever worked. The problem was, my RIGHT arm was already occupied with the bag of groceries.) By this time, I had reached a speed which made it impossible to switch the bag to my left arm. The racing bike was somewhere around 65 mph* now, beating a path straight to the unforgiving curb at the bottom of the hill.

I uttered a faint, but slightly audible, "oh no" as I resigned myself to the inevitable.

Sure enough, I hit that curb with a BANG!, sailed over the handlebars, and flipped in midair as, in slow motion, I watched apples and toothpaste and nutmeg and a bike and sundries, each traveling in their own flight patterns. We all landed on the front lawn of Mr. and Mrs. Hoey's house. I lay there for a moment. Surveyed my body. Surveyed the neighborhood for witnesses. No one saw me - good. My body was fine. My pride took a beating. I located the empty, tattered grocery bag, gathered the dazed items, picked up my bike, and slowly completed my trek homeward - the bike now in a rhythmic "Thump, Thump, Thump, Thump..." since the front rim now sported a nice, deep new dent.

I wasn't prepared for the downhill.

What is your "downhill"? Will you be ready for it?

image credit

* ministerially speaking

Comments

[jasonS]

Good analogy (and just a great story). 65 MPH on a bike?! My goodness, I would have been terrified.

I've been learning what my downhills are and they aren't always related to what I think they are. I get these feelings of being overwhelmed and that's when I'm most vulnerable, but it's that process of surrender and allowing grace to change me on the uphill that I know will make all the difference for the next down. Thanks Scott.

[Scott Couchenour]

Jason - Thanks. Your comment caused me to add a footnote (check it out).

I love your second paragraph! If everyone in ministry leadership could say the same thing...

[MichaelDPerkins]

What an awesome story. I can just picture it :)

I think the biggest key to the downhills is just knowing that they will come. We don't know when they will, but we have to expect or even anticipate.

Goods stuff scott.

[Scott Couchenour]

Thanks, Michael. Downhills are like death and taxes - pretty much can count on them. You're right - the key is expecting them and anticipating them.

[Frank]

Sometimes my life feels like a runaway bike going downhill like you describe. The only difference is I don't see the bottom. I know I'm going to crash eventually, but I can't see it coming. Meanwhile I'm picking up speed. It's usually at this point I conclude it's better to bail. But is it? Who knows what God has in store at the bottom?

[Scott Couchenour]

yeah, boy,I know what you mean. Rather than bail, I'm trying to go back to the point where I'm leaving the store. Preparation/Prevention. Asking myself questions like "which arm should I use to carry the bag?"...

[Herbhalstead]

Scott, I laughed while reading this because I had a similar experience, except on a skateboard, and it was a rock in the road instead of a curb!

I've had my share of downhills, I've learned to first ask people to pray when I sense it coming, then I rest in God's ability to carry me through it.

[Scott Couchenour]

Herb - yeah, it's funny now. :) Sure wasn't at the time. :(

Engaging others in the battle is an excellent strategy.