Creek, Tumble, Cross

(Contributed by Mitch Greene)

A while back I rolled my ankle and then did it again the next day. After about five days, I decided that I was healed enough to go for a run. I hated running on the road, so I chose to go to a hike near where I live called Tumbling Run. This hike is incredibly fun and beautiful, but most of the path is full of boulders, making it a pretty difficult hike in comparison to many other Pennsylvania hikes.

I drove out to the spot, hopped out of my car and started running. You first go downwards maybe 100 yards before you reach a creek you need to cross. It had just rained, so the creek was higher and harder to navigate.

As I was jogging down the hill and nearing the creek, I saw a couple and a young child struggling to find a way to cross. I was so excited to do this run that, as I passed them, all I said was, “Hi there!” I saw a few stones over the water and used them to hop quickly across the creek to the other side. I will admit that I felt a little bit cool pulling of my stunt.

I rounded a corner where they couldn’t see me anymore when the same ankle landed between two rocks and slipped sideways. I gasped from the pain and immediately knew what had just happened. My bad ankle had rolled for the third time in a month!

Shortly after my small tantrum, I heard the couple that had apparently made it across. I could have asked them for help, but I suddenly felt very self-conscious. I kid you not, I limped my way behind a tree and hid from them. You read it right; I actually hid. I waited for them to pass by before coming back to the creek, only to realize that the way I had crossed before wouldn’t work now. It took me nearly an hour to get back to my car, which should have been less than a five-minute walk. It was humiliating.

Embarrassment, humiliation, indignity and shame are all very unpleasant emotions. They take advantage of our pride and knock us down. Unhealthy pride keeps us in our place, which holds us back from real progress.

And yet, if you let go of your pride, you might just be able to cross back over the creek.

Hold on to your pride and you might find yourself stranded.