When my children were small and learned how to walk, I remember the uncertainty of their balance, but the simultaneous determination in their little faces. One parent holds the child’s hands and the other sets across the room with arms open to catch them. The child starts out with their hands over their head, hands wrapped tightly around the fingers of whichever adult holds them upright at the start.
Establishing their balance and with eyes wide, they start moving their legs and leaning towards the other parent. The first parent lets go of the tiny fingers and away the toddler goes, usually with those little arms still above their heads, for no apparent reason, waving recklessly as they move across the floor. They tend to lean their bodies forward, head first, until that momentum causes them to literally begin to fall forward. They then begin to move their little legs as fast as they can to keep their balance and move forward, often collapsing into the arms of the waiting parent, gleeful, laughing. Great Job! Wow, what a moment.
We spend the rest of our childhood perfecting the walk, adding in the run, the jump, the skip and the all important hop. Childhood propels us forward, onward, upward. Becoming faster, jumping higher, climbing, and jumping rope, playing sports, competing at life. It all makes perfect sense.
Then, one day, we look around and realize that something has changed. We walk automatically, we run seldom, we work, we eat, we read, we watch TV, go to church, talk with friends, but where did the thrill of living go? Is it dormant or gone forever? Has the flame of life flickered and died long before our bodies are finished or is the flame running on low? What would it take to fan the flames, inspire us? What would it take to cause us to lift our hands over our heads and lean forward into life once again? Is it lack of energy or lack of interest, or is it perhaps the fact that we don’t inspire each other? What importance do the two parents in the story play? One person is holding the child’s hands and supporting; while the other one is ready to catch them if they fall.
How much can we play a role in inspiring one another to keep trying new things and supporting one another by vowing to be there to catch each other when we stumble? How inspiring can we be, simply by continuing to live life ourselves?
How about you? Maybe it’s time to lift your hands above your head and lean forward into life once again. Remember God our Father and good friends are always there to catch us if we fall. Blessings!

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