Through the Roof

This was the summer going into my eighth grade year. For some reason, a lot of people in my class had pool parties that year, including myself. This recollection comes from the very first one. Leave it to me to go out with a bang right off the bat.

At this particular pool party, the girl hosting it had a barn next to her house. Once we were all done swimming, we gathered into the barn to hang out. Some people were shooting hoops at the basketball net inside of it, others were singing along to Rascal Flatts (I recall one kid using a canoe paddle as a microphone to "Life Is A Highway"... middle school), and others just talking on the side. Somewhere along the lines, someone requested a game of manhunt. And this, my friends, is where it really begins.

This barn had second-floor loft that looked over the bottom of it. A few people thought it would be a good place to start the game, so three or four of us went up the stairs to hide there. Once at the top, we spread out a bit. However, my friend and I began to goof around a bit. He found a pair of crutches and started hitting me with one of them. So, in my defense, I took a step back, which was naturally landed right on top of a loose piece of wooding in the floor.

And through it went my right leg.

I remember a girl on the first floor of the loft screaming as she saw my limb coming through the ceiling. My friend’s face looked as if he had hit me with a car. He instantly grabbed my hand and pulled me back so the entirety of my body was on the loft once again. However, my thigh looked as if it had gone through a wood chipper.

So I limped down the stairs, out of the barn, and into the house to show my leg to two of the moms who were chaperoning this rowdy middle school pool party. Somewhere between the loft and the house, someone started a rumor that my little fall occurred while I was making out with someone (who wasn't even on the loft by the way, so props to whoever set that one up). When I entered the kitchen, the two moms immediately began cleaning up my leg. When they asked how it happened, I simply stated "playing manhunt," two which one of the moms replied, "Well, that makes sense because I heard you hunted down your man."

GREAT. So now not only does it look like I fell victim to an army of cats, everyone there (including two MOMS... seriously, moms!) thinks I'm a big hussy. No one ever believed me when I said there was no smooching involved, and even through high school people brought it back up: "Hey, remember that time you fell through Andrea's loft makin’ out with TJ?" Eventually I stopped defending myself.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I had to run in a state-wide track championship the next day. My wrecked thigh ran a 6:02 mile; one second behind the winner, two seconds from going to nationals in Pennsylvania. I probably would have claimed victory had that boy not been kissing me! Shucks (cue the sarcasm).

Truthfully, we all fall down sometimes, literally and figuratively. I've fallen down many times, and there are more blog posts that will be inspired from these tumbles. Luckily, those were hysterical and make hilarious stories. But sometimes it's not so funny when we fall. It's not so much a physical one, but a shortcoming that makes us feel hopeless and miserable, one that makes us wonder if we'll ever be able to lift ourselves off the ground. Bad news is we can't lift ourselves off the ground. Good news is, we have a God who can.

Isaiah 41:10 says, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." God upholds us. Isn't it an awesome thought to picture the Creator of the universe keeping us upright with His very own hand? Next time you're feeling an all-time low, know that Someone wants to pull you up from the floor, whether or not your leg is descending from a ceiling. He won't walk away once He picks you up either. He will hold you until you are strong enough to stand up on your own, and even then He will continue to hold your hand through the good and the bad life brings.

Here's some love for your ears. I stumbled upon this hidden gem by Adele a few years ago and had forgotten how beautiful it was until (to my pleasant surprise) I heard a girl sing it at a bar last week. I've been listening to it constantly all over again ever since. Sit back, relax, and let "Daydreamer" ease your stresses for a few minutes. Enjoy!