Taking the Fall
Many years ago, when I played slow-pitch softball in Wooster’s Parks and Recreation
League, my teammates and I would often say, “Pick Me Up” after one of us made an out
and seemingly let the team down. In other words, do something to lift us up since we
failed to do so.
In our spiritual life, we often communicate that to the Lord, even though we might not
say it in those exact words. When we trip, stumble, or fall, we often cry out to Jesus,
“Pick me up, Lord” and invariably, he does.
As we know, he did much more than that for us at the end of His life. Not only did he pick
us up, He stood in for us, taking the sins of the world on His shoulders so that we would
not have to pay the wages of our misdeeds.
How often do we stand up or stand in for someone else? How often do we pardon the
actions of others? Probably not as often as we could or should.
Jesus was full of abundant grace and infinite mercy, and he calls on us to share those
blessings with others, forgiving them as He forgave us. Let us be ever mindful of God’s
unconditional love, and as we draw closer to Good Friday and Easter Sunday, let us
forgive others with kindness, consideration, and consolation, so that others may see
and embrace the power of reconciliation!