Falling

‘Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down a very deep well… Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end!…’

Alice started her adventures in Wonderland by chasing a white rabbit and accidentally falling….

We start life unsteady on our feet, falling over… We may fall down stairs, over a curb-stone, out of a window… Later in life we may again be unsteady on our feet and fall…

Musing… ‘falling’…

Steve’s fallen in love. His world seems perfect. Falling in love? It’s out of Steve’ control… Steve hopes he doesn’t fall out of love!

Jane always falls on her feet. She applied for a new job; she was successful and soon has a pay rise. She went on holiday and got the best deal. A distant uncle left her a new car in his will. Whatever happens always turn out good… as if by chance.

George was asked to invest £10 000 in a new building development. There was no building… but George fell for it and lost his money. George’s falling involved making a bad choice.

…falling from grace… pride come before a fall… a fallen woman… falling pregnant?

Falling… out of control… by chance… poor choices?

In the Genesis narrative God made Adam and Eve in a perfect world. They chose to eat the fruit. It’s often referred to as ‘The Fall’ – the transition from innocence, obedience and closeness to God, to guilt, disobedience and distance from God.

This ‘fall’ wasn’t an accident; it was a deliberate choice…

David writes:…‘If the Lord delights in a man’s way he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.’ (Psalm 37:24)

‘The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down’ (Psalm 145:14)

David knew a God who could both prevent falling and pick up those who had fallen…