For most people, it would be a traumatic and possibly dangerous experience. To me, it was another one of my unexpected trips. Pun intended.

It happened at the end of gym class my sophomore year of high school. We didn’t dress out that day, instead we played a game of no rules basketball. When the first dismissal bell rung, I ran back up to the very top of the bleachers to get my folders. My friends and I had been sitting up there before we joined into the basketball game.

I still remember picking up my folders and spinning around. And as usual, I wasn’t paying attention to what was around me because I was in a hurry. That’s why I didn’t notice the folder that was lying on the bleacher row below me. As I began my run back down, my foot landed on that folder, which sent it sailing through the air. Hopefully, somebody didn’t have anything very important in it because I have no idea where it landed.

As for me, I went straight down. Unfortunately I didn’t land between the rows and stop there. That would have been too convenient. Instead I continued on down the bleachers. Or better yet, I literally rolled all the way down the bleachers. And as I rolled, I saw ceiling, bleachers, ceiling, bleachers…you get the idea. Actually what I remember the most were the lights in the ceiling that I saw every two seconds.

Let me tell you, I nailed the landing. Seriously. When I finally came to a stop, my legs were draped over the bottom bleacher. On the floor I laid on my back with my arms stretched out on each side.

My two friends, who were standing beside the bleachers and waiting on me, watched the whole thing. One of them walked over to me while I was still in shock and sprawled out on the gym floor. She tried to ask me if I was okay, but she was laughing so hard she could hardly talk. My other friend just turned and walked away.

On the bright side, I wasn’t wearing a dress and I didn’t break any bones.

On the down side, I was so embarrassed after the shock wore off. Maybe mortified would be a better word. This wasn’t the first time I had taken a fall in front of my friends and classmates, but it was the worst. And I had nobody to blame but myself.

Then I came to a realization. I was always going to be a Klutz and awkward like my Papaw. Still yet, that was no excuse for my little bleacher excursion. I needed to be proactive about it and the only way to do that was to slow down and pay more attention to what was around me.

“The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” Psalm 34:7 (KJV)

Many people who believe in guardian angels refer to the above verse to support their belief. And I know many others who don’t believe in them. Either way, the Good Lord has His hands on us.

But if they do exist, I feel sorry for mine. It’s a good thing angels are not human because mine would stay stressed and worn out. And when I do think enough to slow down and look around, I bet mine is jumping for joy.

“Praise the Lord!”