I could stumble at any time – even in a playground, when I am on the phone and when I least expect it…
The other day – out of the blue – I took a little tumble.
It was nothing serious, but the bruises are still fading even weeks later.
My children were in the park, and while I was talking on the phone, I stepped out onto a rope bridge without realising that I needed to balance myself, and just as I tried to take the first step, I stumbled, lost my balance, and after a few faltering steps, I tumbled the very short distance to the floor.
This tumble occurred on children’s play equipment, and so I did not fall far and did not break any bones. The worst that happened was that the ropes of the bridge burned my skin in a few places and I received some rather nasty bruises in the places that hit the ropes and the ground.
And I have been reflecting on that tumble as I have been reflecting on the call to sanctity.
You see, the main reason that I fell was because I was distracted. Because I was speaking on the phone as I was walking, I was not focused on balancing myself and because I was not focused on balancing myself, I was not prepared to stretch out my arms and hold my balance. And so, when I started to lose my balance that day, I was unable to quickly get myself into a position where I could recover my position. Instead, my arm was lifted to my ear (holding my phone to my ear) and my concentration was on the words on my phone call, and as I started to tumble I was unable to lift myself back out of the fall.
And this is pretty much the same as sin. You see the rope bridge is like sin. It is an opportunity to fall – but only an opportunity. It is not a guarantee that I am going to fall or fail – it is just an opportunity that such a thing will happen. And if – unlike me that day that I took that tumble – our arms are spread out to hold our balance and our focus is on the task at hand, we will “fall” into sin. You see, stretching out my arms and concentrating on the task at hand is like praying and meditating. It is like actively and consciously seeking a stronger connection with God. All of those things are a conscious calling out to God – an invitation to invite Him into our lives.
And if, other things (like a phone call) get in the way, then when we encounter the “rope bridge” of sin, we will be unable to balance ourselves and instead of gliding across with relative dignity, we shall fall. And as a result of that fall we shall have bruises, which are like the stain of sin on our souls. And only the Sacrament of Reconciliation will ever be able to wash such bruises clean.
And as I think about that today, I think about my focus. Because I could stumble at any time – even in a playground, when I am on the phone and when I least expect it…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.