It’s happened again- I’ve rolled my ankle. At 6:53pm last night I got a text asking if I could be a sixth player for a little 3 on 3 women’s basketball. I’m not much of a basketball player, but my mom made sure when I was young that I got enough coordination to hold my own at a mediocre to low competition level in most sports. Basketball was my third-grade specialty. Armed with the knowledge that I might be able to run, guard, and pass, I changed into tennis-shoes and joined the gym at approximately 7:01pm.

One shot on basket, half a dozen passes, a few turn-overs and one double dribble later, I was taking the ball back after successfully nabbing it from my friend. POP. One wrong step and by approximately 7:09pm, I was down. Barely ten minutes and I’d already put myself out of the game.

Here’s the crazy thing: I love wearing high heels. I’ve worn them now almost everyday for seven years of teaching. A tiny piece of feeling more professional, maybe a tiny attempt at making myself a yitz more imposing towards my nearing 6′ 5″ young men, and a tiny attempt at towering over my 5′ 2″ ladies. The ground on the side of this mountain where I live is anything but flat. We don’t have tarmac- packed dirt, loose dust, rocks, and uneven cement pavers make up most of the surfaces around campus. I walk so carefully in my heals, watching every step. When I go down the crooked stairs in front of the cafeteria to approach the printer room or offices from my classroom, I ALWAYS hold the rail. I watch every single step between my house and my classroom, walking downhill and across the pitted road. So where did I roll my ankle? Wearing tightened down athletic footwear on the perfectly flat gymnasium floor.

Totally unexpected. Totally unanticipated is when my injury came- when I was comfortable enough to let my guard down. I wasn’t paying close attention to where I placed my foot- and now I’m sitting in my living room with a bag of frozen peas on my ankle and my snoozing pup next to me while my dear friend Meredith monitors a lab on chemical and physical changes- a task I wouldn’t even dare ask of any but other experienced science educators.

I feel like physical injury isn’t the only thing that happens when one becomes lackadaisical.

When I was on home assignment, I had so much time. I was careful with each day- I had the time, so I wanted to use it wisely. I prioritized going to the gym, I prioritized people I love, I prioritized time in God’s word. I was so careful to reestablish time in prayer, time of resting in God’s love, time to seek Him.

Living in a community of missionaries, people who have all left their homes and given up so much to serve Jesus feels safe. Spiritually safe. Of course, we all are on fire for the Lord. Of course we all have solid relationships with Christ. Living here feels like walking with those just right shoes on that perfectly flat ground, but as I learned last night, it’s there that you let down your guard, and one misstep causes nothing but pain.

I LOVE RVA. I loved walking into my classroom this year to faces I already knew the names to. Students I’ve spent Friday nights with once a month for the past two years as part of our sponsor program are now sitting in front of me eager (or not so eager) to learn Chemistry. I loved on Wednesday taking “dorm cover” for a friend who was sick. This time of sitting in the dorm so the full-time dorm parent gets an evening off was spent on the couch, laughing with girls I’ve known for years. When I did dorm cover my first year here, I had to hunt students down for conversations, lure them out of their rooms with food. On Wednesday, they came of their own volition- I was thrilled to see them, they were thrilled to see me! I loved going to the gym with my new roommate and a few other friends, and instead of being intimidated by the teenage dudes in there lifting, bantering with them about our different workouts since I’ve spent enough time with them to know their personalities and sense of humor. I loved having my mentee come over for dinner with two friends and hearing about their break escapades. This girl attended a Taylor Swift concert in Germany with her brother, that girl recounted the hilarious story of how her and her brothers accidentally found themselves on the “clothing optional” beach during their family trip through another European country. I loved hosting my third annual salsa making competition, ingredients chosen carefully not only for salsa, but also as bargaining tools for other ingredients to enhance their creations. I loved hosting a ping-pong tournament on the first weekend back for one of our weekend activities, shocking the teens that I was a real competitor in the games. I have loved walking my dog on the trail around campus and the trail off campus, monkey and parrot sightings lifting the spirits of my heart.

But this place makes me crazy. It makes me crazy when I forget that the spiritually flat ground is just as much a tripping hazard as the lumpy bumpy path that I crossed oh so carefully. I go crazy when I forget that I still need to step with intentionality- because when I stop paying attention, I see only myself. I look inward at my thoughts and my feelings, and when my eyes are inward, my feet fail to find sure footing, and I go down hard.

So even as I see all the good that happens in this place, I am reminded to step carefully each day.

I am reminded to be strong in the Lord and HIS mighty power.
I am reminded to put on armor, armor that will protect me when I do trip.
I am reminded of who the real enemy is-the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
I am reminded to be armed so that I may be able to stand firm on solid ground.
I am reminded to buckle the belt of truth around my waist.
I am reminded to fasten the breastplate of righteousness in place.
I am reminded of the shoes I am to wear as I walk: those of readiness, strapped down with the gospel of peace.
I am reminded to hold the shield of truth, the only thing able to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one.
I am reminded to wear the helmet of salvation, and to wield the sword of the Spirit. This weapon being the most dangerous of all, which is the Word of God.
I am reminded to pray on all occasions, all kinds of prayers and requests, being alert and praying always for all the Lord’s people.

I am reminded not to step casually, but expertly so that the only injury I find would be the physical temporarily twisted ankle, ready to heal slowly, packed in ice and elevated to keep down the swelling.

Prayer Points

-Please pray for my busted ankle to heal quickly without further injury!

-Please be in prayer for me that I would hunger for God’s word, that I might not grow complacent in my own seeking out of Christ in this place where it feels like He is everywhere, but it is so easy to forget how important it is I keep seeking Him anyways.