The Crutch

The Crutch
Carol Condon
carolcondon.blogspot.com


The first day of summer camp was in full swing. Friends were reuniting after a long year absence. Dorms were being aired out and crammed full of all their favorite things. Electrical outlets were claimed for the coveted fans and if truly blessed an air conditioner was resting on the windowsill ready for the first musty blast of cooled air. The sun was shining brightly blanketing the campground with humid heat, but it was not hindering the students. Activity was everywhere; after all it was finally time for camp!

He was excited to be back with all his friends. It all started with a bottle of water and ended in a chase. He tried to catch himself but after a few failed attempts he fell bending his foot in an awkward position. He felt the snap in his toe and knew it was broken.

I received the call that Jared had been hurt and needed to go to the hospital to be checked out. Needless to say he was quite bummed. All the plans he had made for the long awaited week of summer camp had crumbled.

The doctor confirmed our suspicions. His large toe was broken. They wrapped his foot, handed him a pair of crutches and told him to stay off of the foot as much as possible.

Mark and I went out later that week to check on Jared. The service was going strong and Jared was keeping right up with everyone crutches and all. During the altar call the evangelist stepped forward and held up a set of crutches as praise erupted. When Mark and I walked toward the front we saw Jared beaming with excitement over his new testimony. His foot had been healed! He put the crutches away and walked forward into what became a monumental week for him.

We all have had those moments in our lives where we are going along enjoying life to it’s fullest. When seemingly out of the blue we stumble and fall. We find our plans altered. We are left in a crippled state and in need of a “crutch” to even hold us up. Do we lean on the crutch beyond the required time of healing? Is it easier to lean on the crutch instead of learning to walk forward into our future?

What we thought was going to ruin Jared’s week of camp actually became the thing that took him to a new level of faith in his walk with the Lord. Is there a set of crutches under your arms? In order to regain our strength we will have to set the crutches aside and learn to walk forward into the future He has made for us. The new level of faith may be just out of reach of the crutch you are leaning on.

1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.