Digging around in my closet recently, I found a writing dated July 27, 1997. This story took place a year or two after Taylor and Kinsey got trapped in the box, which goes to prove that we all need Jesus… and one another.
I fell in a pit today. I’m sure the scene was comic, but it was not funny when it happened. I had lost a paper that contained an important phone number and after searching my office high and low, I concluded it must have been in a box of trash I had thrown in the dumpster earlier. So off to the dumpster I went. Thankfully this large dumpster is in an isolated place on campus and since the campers were away on a field trip, I did not hesitate to climb up and crawl in. It would take a video to show exactly what happened, but basically, I lost my balance and fell head first into this large metal garbage container and hit my nose on the frame as I descended. At first I sat amongst the bags and boxes of garbage not knowing where I was. After I stood up and realized I was in a dumpster, I felt a drip and noticed blood coloring the trash below my feet. As I squeezed my nose, I searched in vain for my missing piece of paper.
Hurt, frustrated, and bleeding, the worst was yet to come; I heard a car approach. “Oh no,” I thought. As I peered out the hole in the side of the dumpster, I saw one of my good coaching friends grab a bag of garbage from his pickup truck and walk toward me. I had no place to hide. “Dana? Is that you?” “Yes,” I replied with not a little embarrassment. “I had a little accident.” “You’re bleeding,” my friend said. “Here, put your foot on this spot and I’ll help you.” I made it out, tried to explain what had happened, then walked back to my office.
It is not fun being in a pit. Some might tell me how to better enter a dumpster, but that would not change the fact that I fell. In the pit, I was disoriented, confused, and wounded. I am thankful for the way my friend handled the situation. The last thing he expected to find in the dumpster was me, but instead of laughing and making fun, he was genuinely concerned for my well being. Instead of going to tell others about my plight, he asked if I was OK. Instead of lecturing me on the hazards of dumpster diving, he helped me out. I’m glad he didn’t crawl down in the pit with me; I don’t think that would have been good for either of us.
How do we react to those that have fallen? Do we sit back and judge or do we have compassion? Do we discuss the poor decisions that led to a person’s fall or do we lend a helping hand? Do we spread the word of the situation or do we go to our prayer closet? I’m thankful for my friend.
“But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear – hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 20-25