My Hard Fall was a Blessing
I walked up to the podium trying not to look scared out of my mind even though I was absolutely terrified. This was my first time ever addressing my entire church congregation, so I expected to be somewhat nervous. I just hadn’t anticipated that my legs would feel like two solid pillars of steel, weighing two tons each. Although it wasn’t, everything seemed to be happening in slow motion and I thought I was about to hyperventilate.
When my youth pastor first called and asked me to speak for 20 minutes at a conference to encourage saved singles to stay on the right path, I thought he must have dialed the wrong number!
Everyone will tell you, I don’t mind helping in ministry. I will sweep floors, work in the nursery, teach the youth, or serve church members during dinner functions in the fellowship hall. It doesn’t matter to me.
I don’t mind volunteering because Ecclesiastes 9:10 is my motto: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.”
That “whatever” in Ecclesiastes, however, does not include speaking to the full congregation at my local church.
But I agreed anyway (I don’t know what possessed me to say yes!) and dragged my lead legs up to the front.
When I was about two steps away from the lectern, I tripped over the microphone chord.
Off came my shoe and guess what happened next?
8 Comments