To the ignorant, fall equals calamities unfolding,
Spurring delays and losses. To avoid it
They spend until they’re spent, to stop it.
Some beat their falls to stand on borrowed feet;
Struggling not standing, to prove infallible
Struggling instead of thriving, standing
On fear rather than faith and courage.
Having done all to avert essential fall, they have
Nothing on which to stand so they struggle;
Fighting to maintain ‘hard-earned’ stand.
Rather than give in and learn, they spend a lifetime
Fighting to stand, missing the lessons in rising.
Better to fall and learn to find your feet
Than struggling to stand on borrowed legs
Better to fall and learn to enjoy balance
Than to wobbling in the name of standing
Better to learn with little falls
Than to be swallowed by an inevitable one.
Denial only delays what is bound:
Better to fall in a class surrounded by care
Than crumble on stage – far from home and help.
Yet, better to fall for little things among kindred
Where mercy lives, generous and tender, to rebuild
Than to go so far and end at the feet of giants
Where ambition tramples compassion.

Food For Thought: We take pride in the fact that we are not prone to what others struggle with. We boast about it if we can get away with it, “Me, O no! I never hit and miss: always on target.” Considering that such claims are likely to earn us the respect and admiration of others, further fuels the tendency. What folly it is to boast in ourselves and our abilities! We are all subject to error. Even the best intended among us will miss the mark not once or twice. Not because they set out to miss it. It is simply human nature to miss every once in a while, some more often than others. It is because we are not perfect. Despite our strivings for perfection, we will not attain it in this tainted world that leaves no room for such. It is commendable to strive to be better but perfectionism is enslaving; a grave malady that spares no pity for self or for others; ever demanding, unrelenting, unforgiving. It thrives when it stands but taking a fall, it steers in depressive and destructive directions. Yet, being in touch with our humanity reveals our desperation for the tenderness of mercy and teaches us not only to enjoy it as often as the need arises, it helps us to extend same to others on similar grounds as we have been and are prone to be.

Scripture: For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity. Proverbs 24:16

Prayer: Dear Lord, every time I stumble or fall, help me discover and maximize the purpose of each, amen.