I should really let it go, in the grand scheme of things it’s not that big of a deal. For me, there are an estimated three inches that have the possibility to ruin a perfectly good three mile workout. It’s one tiny bit of an uneven sidewalk. And as silly as it sounds, those three inches of that uneven sidewalk found around a half of a mile into my normal route have belligerently taught me a simple lesson.
Ordinarily things like that shouldn’t be a problem. I like sports, I run outside frequently and even though I’m not the most graceful person in the planet (who is, really?) I can usually keep myself upright and jogging along with no problem.
Why is this one especially troublesome? There happens to be a street light that casts a shadow over the joins in the sidewalk. So, on first unassuming glance, there’s no problem. But the uneven sidewalk is still there, just disguised. Even though I remind myself of uneven sidewalk up ahead on the left side of Elkhorn Mountain Trail, some days I fall victim to the sidewalk.
There are things we can all consider the bits of uneven sidewalk in our lives. For some, its difficulty with a specific sin or other shortcoming. For others, it could be a tendency to hold grudges, gossip or to not set enough time aside in our busy lives to spend with God.
But we continue to work and we’re not left alone to fight them ourselves. We have Mass, prayer, the sacraments and a community in Christ that is there to support us, pick us off the ground, and to help us avoid the uneven patches in walk’s sidewalk.
We’re not perfect. Even though we know it’s there, from time to time we still may find ourselves desperately trying to brace ourselves from the fall. Just get up, make the necessary changes and start again.
I think we all fall victim to the uneven sidewalk! Beautiful analogy and reminder to pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off. It’s never too late to start fresh again with God. Thanks, Elizabeth!
Thanks Julia! Have a great Monday!
Once, when I was in college, I was skateboarding home from class and hit a supremely uneven piece of sidewalk. My board stopped… but I didn’t. I hit the ground fast, but somehow magically rolled and ended up standing and rather stunned. I looked back at my board, then around at the million billion other people who had just witnessed it, because of course it was the transition time between classes on campus and everybody and their mother was there. I threw my fists in the air, yelled, “Put that on YouTube!”, picked up my board, and walked home.
If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. If life throws an uneven sidewalk at you, become an amateur stuntman.
Oh man, that is the stuff of legends!
I like that…. become an amateur stuntman or a ninja.