I hope never again
November 16, 2009 (Monday)
People ask me how I’m doing, and I say, “Great!” I am very thankful to feel well and have no serious health problems. I thank the Lord for that, but something happened Thursday night that reminded me to be especially thankful, because I suddenly realized that everything can change in a few seconds.
I went to sleep in the recliner, watching television, and stayed asleep two hours. When I woke up, it was after 1:00 a.m. By the time I dressed for bed and did a few chores, I was wide awake, so I sat down at the computer to check the email. Around 1:30 a.m., I stood to my feet and took a step, but my leg had fallen asleep, I think, and would not work. As I tried to remain standing, I found myself moving forward in a semi-circle, but only one leg was working. After three or four steps, I fell to the floor, hitting my mouth on a coffee table. After a few minutes, trying to understand what just happened, I stood up and went to bed. I realized in a new and fresh way just how fragile our good health is. My lip still shows signs of the accident today, and I discovered that one front tooth has a tiny chip, but I saw in that experience just how quickly everything can change. I could have broken something and my life would have abruptly changed. For that matter, I could have died. Fortunately, there are no aftereffects and I am fine.
As I lay there on the floor, I imagined a neon sign on the ceiling, “Welcome to the wonderful world of the elderly!” We all dread that fall that results in a broken hip, leg, arm, ribs, or shoulder. But we old folks stumble and fall or nearly fall more than we want anyone to know.
Pardon me, please, while I talk with the Lord and thank him again for always being with me. Fifteen years ago I fell off a chair in the church office and broke my arm. The hardest part of that experience was suffering pain while my friends ridiculed me for standing on a swivel chair. The Lord never laughed. At least, I don’t think he did. Oh, well, he was with me then and now, and he is with you, too, no matter what happens.