LESSONS THAT CAME WITH THE LAUGHTER

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Church members had come to enjoy fellowship and food at a Fall Festival planned by our Engagement Directors. There were games to be played on the lawn, decorated tables, a chili cookoff, a variety of foods, a creative photo op setup, seasonal décor, and so much more. While there were lessons related to relationship building, outreach, and stewardship, that is not the lesson that I am about to describe.

For the second year in a row, the planners of the event included a three-legged race. While it was mostly for the young people, a couple of ladies, sisters in the Lord, and best friends decided to participate in the race. They had not planned to do this in advance. They did not do the practice race. But when it came time for the real race, they stood side-by-side, tied two of their legs together and confidently took off when the signal to start the real race was sounded.

The two young ladies got as far as a third of the way down the racecourse, and then something happened; something that looked like it was taking place in slow motion. They slowly fell to the ground. As they were laying on the lawn, their faces were faced down. I know they had to be laughing, but I’m sure they were praying, and probably even questioning why they entered the race. The adults who were watching on and videoing the happening enjoyed the hardest laugh they experienced, perhaps, for the day. It’s too bad that their stylish MK attire did not have an invitation to our church. It was a perfect evangelism opportunity, because they laid face down for a little while. The good-hearted laughter continued, but that did not stop the two friends from getting up, continuing the race, at least as far as they could go, and returning to the finish line. They did not win the race, but they won the hearts of those participating in the fellowship. Now it would be an omission if I did not shar, that the laughter that the ladies caused had resurfaced every time people watch the slow-motion fall on social media. Yes, there were hundreds of views. However, they should not only see the fall, but also how they were brave enough to join in with the youth. They were examples of perseverance by the fall.

Yes, as the title says, there were some lessons that came with the laughter. It reminded me of lyrics from Donnie McKlurkin’s song. “We Fall Down.” Specifically, the words that say, “We fall down, but we get up.” That’s what the two ladies did! They had a fall, but they got up, together. They reminded me of the Biblical analogy of the oxen who went down on the road, as if pausing to pray, but they got up together to continue their work. That’s one lesson for us. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to get down and pray together and then get back up together so we can continue our work, continue our purpose, and continue serving. We don’t even have to wait until an unintended happening occurs. We should do that together, often; much prayer, much power, 

The other lesson provided by these two ladies was just as meaningful. You see, they had a failing, but they got up, determined not to be a failure. They kept up the effort until they finished the race. Listen, whatever brings you down in life, let it be momentarily. Don’t stay down, get back up and finish the course. Be like the Apostle Paul, as described in the verse below.

If we look through a godly prism, we will see something beneficial in everyday happenings, even in something such as I just described. When things happen there will be a whole range of emotions, but look beyond the emotional reaction, and see the lesson. Yes, just like the ladies in the race, look past the laughter and see the lesson. Have a good day! Show up at church tomorrow! Be blessed!     

 ^“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have served the Lord faithfully.” (2 Timothy 4:7 easy-to-Read Version)

Committed to the climb,

Mark L. King