We used to visit my aunt and uncle on a ranch where they worked and lived, just outside Chicago. On one such visit I woke up early, and my aunt put me to work feeding the animals. I sort of enjoyed it; there was a worker about my age, and he showed me how to do everything. It was cold, but it didn't bother me very much.

Having emptied my feed bucket into a trough for the cows, I proceeded to walk back toward the barn. I nonchalantly jumped up onto the first rung of the gate and threw my bucket over. Unfortunately, there was still a thin layer of frost from the night before on the top few bars of the gate. As I attempted to step over the top bar, my foot slipped, and I dove headfirst over the top of the gate and onto the hard, packed dirt driveway.

The fall hurt badly, and my head bled, but I decided to keep working anyway. I finished the jobs assigned to me, and walked around for awhile. The cold weather kept the pain down for the moment. Finally, I went inside. As I warmed up, my head started to hurt more and more. My mother was worried, and thought I should go to the hospital, but my dad has had lots of experience with concussions and told her we needed to wait. Finally, he said it was time to go.

I don't remember the car ride; I guess I was in too much pain. And the only other thing I remember from that day was when they put the I.V. in. They told me they were going to give me the I.V., and I said something stupid like, "Is that a shot?"

Needless to say, I spent the weekend in the hospital. I wanted to be out four-wheeling, fishing, and enjoying nature, but instead I suffered the consequences of my little slip-up. Not only was I tied up for the weekend, but I also had to spend the next few weeks doing very little of what I enjoy. I wasn't able to run, jump, or do anything that jarred my head. I also had to put medicine on my scar to keep it from becoming permanent.

I think that's kind of how sin works. We fall hard, but we think we are still okay. The cold of this world keeps us blind to our truly miserable state. We keep on walking through life, not knowing that our brains are swelling. If we don't see a "doctor" soon, it could do serious damage. Finally, the pain brings us to God, and He begins the healing process. It hurts a lot, but He gives us what we need to make us strong enough to endure it. Finally, when He makes us whole, we are able to enjoy the wonders He made for us.

Camden Bowman is a senior at Battle Creek Academy.