Due to the distance it takes for us to get to our Stake Center from our home we decided that we would attend conference by broadcast in our own building nearby. And of course when you think you have lots of time, you tend to use it up more quickly. We arrived only five minutes before the meeting started. It was a cool day – a little cooler than usual September weather. Inside the building was chilly and during the first half of the meeting I froze.
During the intermediate hymn I decided to go get a lap blanket which I use for Cubs. It was I stored in my Cub cupboard. To get to this cupboard one has to walk over the baptismal font and then turn on the light so they can see, and then I can see in the cupboard to get what I need. In our building we have a false floor over the baptismal font. As I stepped into the area I simply trusted that the false floor was in place. It was dark because the light switch is on the other side and as I stepped in the floor was not there and I fell down into the font and banged my shoulder and ribs on the far side of the stairwell leading down into the font. The first thing that crossed my mind was gratitude that there was no water in the font. It's funny that that was my first thought. The second thing that came into my mind was gratitude that I could get up. I walked up the stairs turned on the light, got the blanket and then turned around realized that to get out I had to go through the front again or the men's washroom which wasn't an option because the building was in use. My arm was hurting terribly but I stepee down one step and then use my arm to support me and pull myself up out of the font and back up into the back of the chapel. This back a portion was closed off for the meeting so nobody saw or heard what had happened. However, for some reason Myles walked through there just as I was coming out. He took the blanket from me which was too heavy for me to carry without pain and watched over me was he guided me back to my seat. I requested Chad to go and lock the font area up so that nobody else could fall as I had.
There was so much good counsel and direction given during the last half of that meeting. I wish that I had felt up to taking notes because there were many things I would have liked to have written down. However I am blessed, for my children are diligent note takers and the principles and truths that were taught were recorded and our family will remember them.
Sunday night I requested a priesthood blessing and the priesthood power was invoked on my behalf.
Monday morning I decided I should go to the hospital just to be sure that nothing was seriously wrong. I had a great deal of pain in my left shoulder but only when I moved it. I was pretty sure nothing was broken and I was able to use my arm just fine as long as I didn't move my shoulder. So Monday morning I went into the hospital and had x-rays done. When the nurse asked me what I was taking for pain I realized how blessed I was, because it hadn't even occurred to me to take anything. While I knew I had a potentially serious injury, the pain was bearable. Everything checked out ok. They gave me a prescription to help with the inflammation and off I went.
I was able to use my hand just fine as I finished stitching the binding on the quilt I made for Alisha and Brandon. I found that it doesn't hurt to carry things, so I can cook. I can't lift my arm away from my body very well, but the range of motion is increasing each and every day. In fact, I am healing much quicker than I would have anticipated.
Tuesday morning, I made jam without assistance and then did some crafting. While I need to take it easy for a while I am healing and that is a real blessing.
So when I have an experience, I always wonder, "What lessons can I learn from this experience?"
The first thing I think of is faith. I had placed so much faith in the false floor being there that I never considered checking for it before stepping out over the font. Sometimes in life we place our faith in people. Placing faith in people is much like trusting the false floor that could easily be removed. While you can trust them to be there almost all of the time, one day they might say or do something that is not consistent with what you always expected from them. We are mortal. We make mistakes. And while most of us would never choose to not be there for a friend or loved one when they most need us, sometimes because of our own hardships and challenges or simply our imperfections, we are not able to be there to the degree that others expect us to be. This lets them down. The relationship can crumble and it is much like falling into a hole in the floor. It is painful and it is hard to get back up and then you have to learn to trust that relationship all over again. I know that if I have to walk into that area again I will most certainly test the floor for support first before I place my weight thereon.
The second thing I am reminded of is light. I was walking in the dark. Had I had enough light to see, I never would have fallen. Well this is just one of those freak accidents that we all experience at one time or another in our lives, but there is a principle here that can help us avoid heart ache. That principle is that if we choose to walk in darkness we will fall. Had I judged my environment as too dark I may never have gone in there. But it was dark, too dark to see the floor or lack of it. I thought I had enough light to see but I could not see the obstacle before me. If we choose to walk in spiritually dark places we can be assured that we will stumble and we will fall. I was blessed in that I could get up and turn on the light and illuminate my surroundings. But if we fall hard enough, it becomes literally impossible for us to turn the light of Christ back on in our lives without the assistance and support of a loving priesthood leader.
My experience is not yet over. But I am thankful for the reminder that this experience gives me to place my faith and trust in something that will never fail – even my Savior, Jesus Christ. Being able to trust Him fills my heart with joy and gladness. I am also thankful for the reminder to keep light in my life, even the light of the Savior. As I look to him, my path can be illuminated before me. I can avoid the spiritual pits, traps, and stumbling blocks that have been so cunningly placed to trap or ensnare me. I know that if I ever find myself caught in such a trap, I can turn to the light of Christ through repentance and forgiveness and I can be free and liberated from misery and wo. It brings me great joy to revel in my Savior, Jesus Christ and all that He has done for me. I am blessed with daily reminders of His love. It is there whether in times that are good or whether in times that are bad. I feel His love and I know that He is there helping me along, encouraging and supporting me. And my heart overflows with joy.
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