Today I was walking along the sidewalk from my apartment building to the Giant just a half block away (yes, be jealous...unless you don't live in DC and thus don't know what Giant is--it's a grocery store--or how hard it is to lug groceries down the street).
This guy was walking toward me and then turned toward the office building on my right, which seemed strange since the work day was over. When I looked at where he was going (confession: I was really watching him because he was cute), I saw an elderly lady sitting on the driveway, surrounded by grocery bags. He went over to help her up, which was nice (points for cute boy!), and then another man walked over to help as well. But what struck me (besides their kindness and chivalry) was that the sweet old lady was calling out "rescue me!" in a way that only old ladies and children can get away with. Or have the guts to say.
Rescue me. It was so honest and humble and endearing. It was also a demand, as if society owed her a lift. And in a way, we do. We should pick each other up when we fall down, especially if we want someone else to do the same for us someday.
I thought of how I feel "fallen" right now. Stuck. Helpless. Needy. I'm a little old lady in a skirt with my groceries strewn around me on the sidewalk. But usually I just sit there and feel sorry for myself and watch the world go by. Or gather up the milk and unbroken eggs I can reach and try hoisting myself up, only to fall back again and create more spillage and breakage. Or start whimpering and whining, or blaming myself for tripping over my own feet. If only I had worn different shoes, or seen that twig in the road, or hadn't bought so many groceries.
Why can't I simply look up and cry "rescue me!" And not timidly or ashamedly, but boldly. Belt it out, Janel, to a loving heavenly Father Who has bound Himself to you, Who has long ago promised to be there whenever you fall, Whose favorite pasttime is wandering along beside His kids and discovering life with them and picking them up when they go bum. Why would He do any less than a stranger on the street?
Lord, increase my faith. Rescue me.
