The Ice-Skating Beginner
When I was sixteen I participated in a youth group event for fifth and sixth graders, including my younger sister. I was coerced into going along on this particular pizza event followed by ice skating at the local rink under the pretense that I would do no skating. Not only did I believe the pastime to be horrendously overpriced and an extravagant waste of my money, my experience in the ice skating field was very limited. Many attending high school kids who were my friends had also made up their minds not to actually skate for one reason or another. I had put my foot down in ice skating rebellion and I was not alone.
As we headed for pizza, the full effect of all the kids together sweeping the restaurant like a typhoon. Though it was a Friday night, I was not aware of the other diners at all because they were so eclipsed by the eleven-year-old army. Somehow within half an hour everyone was fed and still high on life (and sugar) when we left the restaurant. I was sure that the night was headed downhill from here, for my cold was worsening and we were now headed to the ice skating rink In fact, upon arrival I walked straight through the entrance and directly past the ticket window- the girl in line behind me had to explain to the lady taking money and stamping hands that I was only going to watch and I was not going to skate. By the time we reached the inside of the rink and plunked ourselves down on the bleachers, I was armed with chocolate and numerous excuses, ready to stay in ice skating self-exile for the rest of the night. I could not help but watch the kids of all ages on the other side of the glass, especially the fifth and sixth graders. They were all laughing at each others’ antics and skating in animated oblivion to the bleacher cluster. In general they all seemed quite happy and competent, no social disasters evident, so I relaxed a little. I told myself with satisfaction that no one could get me to skate. I had accomplished my goal and now all I had to do was sit and watch! And then I noticed my sister, who didn’t know how to skate either.
I watched her stumble along the very edge of the rink, holding on to the railing for dear life and moving as tentatively as could be, my heart broke somewhere beyond my non-skating resolve. She was out on the ice, but her skill was not adequate for this moment of being alone and completely clueless as to the art of having fun. There was no one there to hold her hand and show her how to look like an idiot on the ice and still have a good time.
I stood up. My new brokenness beyond my stubborn resolve had no outlet and I had stood up for no reason, just to make some sort of motion. I found a youth group leader to help teach her how to skate. Then I found a peer who offered to take me out on the ice and show me how to skate around so that I could be of actual help rather than cause a commotion on the rink by falling flat on my face en route to my sister, who by this time was skating okay, holding the hand of the leader I had first gone to in my distress. After arguing with myself for a moment, I went back to the ticket window and paid the eight dollars to get a stamp on my hand and rent ice skates. As I tottered out onto the ice clasping tightly the hand of my friend and muttering to myself about what insanity had possessed me, my perspective changed. I quickly was able to let go of the railing which had seemed so essential to my survival a minute before, and then I progressed to holding my friend’s hand like a normal person rather than a human claw. Soon I could go (very) short distances on my own. I yelled to my friends still glued to the bleachers, “Look! Look! I’m skating!” They nodded in approval and wondered what the big deal had been for me. I felt lighter than air.
Finally I skated oh-so-cautiously to my sister and asked her if she would like to skate with me. She agreed and we took hands and skated around the rink in all our beginners’ glory. We laughed together and held hands so that when one of us fell we wouldn’t slide too far and laughed some more. Inexperience can be glorious- and hilarious. That is one of the dynamics I am most thankful for within my faith, and as Christmas approaches it is one of my meditations within the holiday sphere.
Courtney Burnett
As we headed for pizza, the full effect of all the kids together sweeping the restaurant like a typhoon. Though it was a Friday night, I was not aware of the other diners at all because they were so eclipsed by the eleven-year-old army. Somehow within half an hour everyone was fed and still high on life (and sugar) when we left the restaurant. I was sure that the night was headed downhill from here, for my cold was worsening and we were now headed to the ice skating rink In fact, upon arrival I walked straight through the entrance and directly past the ticket window- the girl in line behind me had to explain to the lady taking money and stamping hands that I was only going to watch and I was not going to skate. By the time we reached the inside of the rink and plunked ourselves down on the bleachers, I was armed with chocolate and numerous excuses, ready to stay in ice skating self-exile for the rest of the night. I could not help but watch the kids of all ages on the other side of the glass, especially the fifth and sixth graders. They were all laughing at each others’ antics and skating in animated oblivion to the bleacher cluster. In general they all seemed quite happy and competent, no social disasters evident, so I relaxed a little. I told myself with satisfaction that no one could get me to skate. I had accomplished my goal and now all I had to do was sit and watch! And then I noticed my sister, who didn’t know how to skate either.
I watched her stumble along the very edge of the rink, holding on to the railing for dear life and moving as tentatively as could be, my heart broke somewhere beyond my non-skating resolve. She was out on the ice, but her skill was not adequate for this moment of being alone and completely clueless as to the art of having fun. There was no one there to hold her hand and show her how to look like an idiot on the ice and still have a good time.
I stood up. My new brokenness beyond my stubborn resolve had no outlet and I had stood up for no reason, just to make some sort of motion. I found a youth group leader to help teach her how to skate. Then I found a peer who offered to take me out on the ice and show me how to skate around so that I could be of actual help rather than cause a commotion on the rink by falling flat on my face en route to my sister, who by this time was skating okay, holding the hand of the leader I had first gone to in my distress. After arguing with myself for a moment, I went back to the ticket window and paid the eight dollars to get a stamp on my hand and rent ice skates. As I tottered out onto the ice clasping tightly the hand of my friend and muttering to myself about what insanity had possessed me, my perspective changed. I quickly was able to let go of the railing which had seemed so essential to my survival a minute before, and then I progressed to holding my friend’s hand like a normal person rather than a human claw. Soon I could go (very) short distances on my own. I yelled to my friends still glued to the bleachers, “Look! Look! I’m skating!” They nodded in approval and wondered what the big deal had been for me. I felt lighter than air.
Finally I skated oh-so-cautiously to my sister and asked her if she would like to skate with me. She agreed and we took hands and skated around the rink in all our beginners’ glory. We laughed together and held hands so that when one of us fell we wouldn’t slide too far and laughed some more. Inexperience can be glorious- and hilarious. That is one of the dynamics I am most thankful for within my faith, and as Christmas approaches it is one of my meditations within the holiday sphere.
Courtney Burnett
posted by Scott | 1:30 AM
1 Comments:
Partnering with the Holy Spirit allows us to experience amazing things beyond our human ability or thinking. When we are open to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives we begin to actually "experience" life the way God meant for us to experience it. Laughter is sweeter, colors are more intense, love is more intentional. The world becomes a place of awe and wonder when we allow the Holy Spirit to show us the way. I'm sure your sister will always remember that evening with you. Thank you, for allowing God to work through you to bless your sister.
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