Bruised knees and life in the 90s

13/03/13

I started school on my fifth birthday or at least that is what my mother tells me.  I remember it - the day I started school. I remember meeting a girl called Emily who shared the same birthday as me. I remember having a pudding basin bob, having 'stripy' blonde and brown hair being started on the blue reading books ( level three of Biff, Chip and Kipper). One thing I vivdly remember at infant school aside from the yellow of the jumpers and my part in the school play as an owl, was my two  It seemed daily rituals one of which was going to the office because I had fallen over. The scars from that time are now all but faded- yes I fell over so often I have scars...

Its really funny that feeling of falling flat on your face never changes, on Monday on my 'commute' to work I tripped over a curb went flying into the pavement. as I picked myself up I felt the familiar yet near forgotten ache in my knees and my palms. I'm not a dainty person... the women in my family on the whole are well built and I am no exception there was a lot of me that fell onto my hands and knees. Truth is I spent the vast majority of the 1990s with grazed palms, bruised knees and falling over. I know that is 15-20 years ago  but still you would think I could remember it but somehow as an adult its different... It hurts more perhaps looking at my knees in their purple and red glory I wondered how did I ever live with this on a near daily basis.

It got me thinking about the ways in which we grow and change. How something that used to be so commonplace in our lives now that thing is rare. Falling over was not a concious choice it just happens, you learn balance and road safety and other such things, I often wonder you know about sin and how we just keep on doing the same sin... somehow we stumble on that one more than others then life changes and there is a breakthrough and we look back and think how could I have been such a gossip or whatever it is. but when you are in that moment all you can think about is... not again. But the bible teaches us not to look back. not to live in the past (Isaiah 43:18-20).

I suppose the comfort is that we can learn and grow from our mistakes. we can choose his way the new life in us, that we know in ten years we won't have this issue any more - not if we are growing and seeking his redemption... yes we may have others... like I should not tweet or post on facebook when I am tired... That was not something I had to worry about in the 90s! I am thankful that we can grow we can learn and we don't have to live in the same situations our whole lives.