They call him Crazy Wheels.
I don’t know his real name.
Shame on me.
He tools all over town in his motorized wheelchair. He gives kids rides. And once my son saw him in the interstate median. With the police. He was probably speeding from exit A to exit B.
I saw him once at the pool. Must have been for some kind of water therapy since a lifeguard was preparing a sling.
I could not help but stare at his legs. Withered. Skin over bone.
No substance.
No depth.
Useless.
I remember what my own leg looked like in comparison to my other after I fell. After I broke my foot.
Casted, splinted, crutched, caned.
Unable to bear weight.
Shriveled.
Weak.
Imperfect.
Defective.
Useless.
Scary.
Like unexercised faith that depends on someone else’s strength.
It’s crazy.
“Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 (Amplified)
Copyright © 2010 by Sandra Heska King
You're great at capturing the lessons of faith, Sandra!
The thing is, to get that leg back to strength, we have to lean into the weakness, stumble and attempt to stand on it. Even if we fall. Or else, we'll never get better.
I love the verse you matched with it!
I like how this is almost written like a poem. I like poems…
Yes to all of the above questions …
Perfect analogy for atrophied faith. You're so good at writing these!
Beautiful! I hope the next time you see him, you shake his hand. Do it for me. 🙂
I hate when I lean on imaginary crutches…only to find out how they cripple you. Leaning on His strength is the only true way to walk again.
Thanks for sharing this!
Jay
@Bonnie: You are a wellspring of encouragement! And I remember how quickly muscle returned to my leg once I could start using it again.
@Laura: Thank you! I think I will trim this up a bit and see if I can turn in more into a poem. 🙂
@Susan: Always so good to see you. Me, too, to all the above questions.
@Linda: Thanks. Gracee just asked why I was smiling. 🙂
@Duane: I will. Just for you!
@Jay: So true! Thanks for sharing that thought.