“Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

Two years ago I fell on the ice while I was skating. I haven’t been back to the rink since.

Not sure exactly what happened. Perhaps I lost my balance or was distracted by something. Perhaps my toe caught on an irregularity or a bump of ice or I leaned too far forward. But there I was, face down. My knees hit first, and I bit my lip falling. There was lots of ice on my red sweater and jeans. And a drop or two of blood on the ice.

The rink was empty. No one saw, which was good for my ego I guess. But it also meant that no one could help me up. Oh, I wasn’t injured. Just a bit dazed in the surprise of the moment. The fall was unexpected as I’d been coasting so nicely for a good while.

But there I was. Fallen down.

Lately, with the Winter Olympics front and center, I’ve been watching the skaters. When they fall, they bounce up really fast. Quite impressive since when I went down, it took me a bit of time to regain my footing and climb back up on my skates. But I did. Dusted off more than a little ice too.

The next step… resuming what I had done before the fall. Skating. And not just to the nearest exit. But taking at least one more circuit of the rink. Otherwise, all I would remember was the fall. All I would remember would be the bruises on my knees and the slightly fat, bloody lip. My confidence was rattled, and I was tempted to just head out.

But I didn’t. Not how I wanted the day to end. Instead, I skated around the rink three more times before calling it quits.

But, as I said, that happened two years ago, and I haven’t put my skates on since. I haven’t gone back to the rink. Oh, I can give you a list of reasons. Covid. Full time job. Too busy. Other things happening. Don’t like to skate with too many people around. Reasons? Perhaps. Excuses? Probably.

As I’ve stated before, every time I put on my skates and venture out on the ice, there is a little fear. A little voice in my head cautioning me and trying to convince me to do something else with the time I’d decided to dedicate to skating. I mean, all I do there is skate in a circle. No tricks. No leaps or backward maneuvers. No cross overs with the feet, like I was so good at when I roller-skating in my youth. Nothing fancy at all. Just one slide in front of the other with the intention to stay upright. Those were my goals during the 30-45 minutes I’d dedicate to this activity.

But, after that fall, I found myself feeling even more tentative. Did I really want to get back on that ice again? Did I want to dust off the skates stored so neatly under my desk and sharpen the blades? Or, might it perhaps be time to choose something that doesn’t come with that kind of mental, emotional, and physical challenge associated. Something safer. I mean, there are lots of things I enjoy doing. Maybe the time had arrived to choose differently…

Perhaps I’m not just talking about skating… Perhaps this is more of an allegorical questions. I’m asking here what you do when you “fall down” and wonder what you should do next. What do you do when you’re faced with the question of whether you should tie on a pair of ice skates or instead choose to keep two feet safely on solid ground? Do you risk going out on the “ice” again, venturing courageously into something that has delighted you but also challenged you and caused you to tumble a few times? Something that caused you to question your abilities and whether you should skate at all? Or do you seek the nearest exit, box up your ice skates, and choose something a little less demanding? I mean, there are other fun activities–activities that are a bit easier to do and still rewarding.

But then… this Bible verse reading from the Daily Bread devotional reminded me to “be strong and of good courage.” To remember that I’m not alone on the ice–or anywhere else. That the Lord is with me. That there are people who support and believe in me. They won’t give up on me because I took one tumble–or seven. They’ll help me up. And they’ll cheer me on, if what I want is to “step back onto the ice.” I just have to find the confidence in myself to resume the circuit.

Ice skating puts you on unsteady ground. There are lots of aspects of life that do that. When you fall, you might feel–like me–a bit shaken. Determining the “Next Right Thing” is a slippery matter.

I’ve hit more than a few bumps in the ice in my life. I’ve zigged and zagged and tumbled more times that I would have liked. There are people and situations that tripped me up. Times when I stumbled and lost my balance. But after these “falls,” I didn’t pack up my skates and go home. Well, I did a few times when I had to regroup and reset. However, I eventually tied those laces back up and found my stride. But now– after so many falls I’ve lost count–I find myself gazing out on the newly polished, glassy ice and wondering… is this the moment I hang up my skates for good and opt instead for something a little gentler on my body and spirit? Is it time for a safer choice?

I’m probably not alone here. When bad things happen and we take a tumble, it’s very tempting to consider a different or less demanding route. And, sometimes, that’s a good choice. Oh, I know who I am. I know what I’m good at. And while I’m no great skater, I do love the sound of the blades cutting through the ice and the crisp, cold air on my face. Yes, I know that I took a fall on both the literal ice and a more personal “ice rink” two years ago that shook my confidence and made me question whether I will ever put my skates on again. I mean, there ARE other things to do.

But… it comes down to this. I enjoy skating. I enjoy my time on the rink. And, I’m pretty good at keeping it simple, going around in a circle with a delighted smile on my face.

As I consider my next steps, I refuse to be afraid. I don’t want to avoid challenges. I want to do something that makes me happy. Something that excites me, challenges me, engages me mentally and emotionally, and inspires me to get out of bed and make a difference in my world.

Okay, maybe I’m not just talking about skating…

So, even after falling, one thing is becoming increasingly clear. I’m not done on “the ice.” I want to put my skates back on and head to the rink for a few more loops. I enjoy it. It makes me happy and gives me a feeling of accomplishment every time I circle the rink.

And when I finally hit that stride, I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.