Knocked Down? Well, GET UP! But Don’t Forget….

photo by me

The path of life leads upward for the wise to keep him from going down to the grave.

-Proverbs 15:24

A week or so ago I made a comment on a great post over at The Jungle of Life. The post was about believing in yourself. Taking on the knocks of life. Getting up after getting down. Since then I have thought a lot about this post and also (hope it doesn’t sound as if I’m bragging) my comment has made ME think about MYSELF.

I love it when that happens.  It seems the teacher always learns more than the students.

I would like to expound a little on my comment.  I’ll paraphrase a bit though.

KNOCKED DOWN? WELL GET YOURSELF UP!

First and foremost it is VERY important that you bounce back to your feet after life has dealt you a breathtaking blow.  A strong punch in the gut can bring you to your knees can keep you down for the count. The rocks of life will continue to pelt you as you lay there.  The roots of life will over take you, dragging you slowly into darkness.

Staying down will lead to nothing good.

A strong feeling of failure and fear awaits your future as you strive to meet your goals.

“I CAN’T DO IT!” will become one of the most used phrases in your vocabulary. You WILL become stuck in a vortex of nothingness and life will not get any better, only swirl slowly out of control.

THIS WAS ME

I remember back when alcohol was my control.  So many times I would sit in the darkness with only the glow of the TV for a light.  Crying to myself because I COULDN’T control this aspect of my worthless life.  Speaking to myself out loud, as I drew the alcohol to my lips, “Tomorrow!”, and then down the spout the demon would go.  Straight to my gut, straight to my brain, and I would wipe the tears away. I was so mad at myself.  How could this happen to ME!  This is THE last DAY this will happen.

The next day, alcohol depriving my brain of thoughts so clear, it would somehow trick me into forgetting that I was gonna stop visiting him today.  It would only remind me once I had purchased the bag-o-fun.  The same process would start over.  Crying.  “Tomorrow!”. Tears. Another punch in the gut. Another demon to take my legs away, landing me on my face over and over and over.

WHAT WENT WRONG

What I did after getting up is something I think we may all may practice. Maybe not.  Maybe it’s just me.  I strongly doubt it though. 

I was on my feet, however brief.  And you know what?  I was heading down the very same path I was on.  Starting over right where I fell. I didn’t have any regard for why I fell in the first place.  Soon, sometimes right after getting back up, I was back down on my face. Lower than I was previously. So excited to get to the end.

BUT DON’T FORGET

So, I’ve came to the conclusion that by all means, if life knocks you down YES. GET UP! Jump up if you want.  But, please, don’t forget to shake off the dust from your last fall.  Look back and determine what made you fall.  Why did you not see the rock, the stump, the limb, or the demon in your path?  Why in the world did you fall in the first place?

Once you’ve got that figured out, your much less likely to fall.  At least fall over the same thing.

I used to picture the path of life as a smooth, soft surface. Skipping on this path would be nothing but easy.  How far from the truth.  The path of life is bumpy, lumpy and stumpy.  If your traveling that path looking at the stars, your gonna end up on your face.

Most importantly.  Take God with you.  He knows the best way around the path.

SC