Remembering the Falls Creek Moment I remember every year at Easter.

A lesson on GRACE.

(I typed this on Friday, but am just now on Easter getting around to editing and posting. Thank you busy life)

On Good Friday I am reminded of the Sacrifice. The execution of a perfect man who did nothing wrong. Who was beat, mocked, laughed at. All so he could pay for everything I have done and will do wrong, so one day I will be made perfect in God’s eyes and therefore can be with Him eternally.

As a young adult it’s hard for me to grasp the concept of offering up your only son for the sins of the world. Partly because I don’t have one. To understand the idea of someone innocent taking the blame for you. Being shown grace. I understand what happened on the cross and why, but I don’t feel it.

 

Well I didn’t feel it.

It was a few years ago when I was dealing with lack of understanding in a lot of areas. I prayed that God would show me, help me to understand Grace, Love, and Mercy. It was in this time that the most incredible things happened and it all clicked for me. (Love and Mercy are another blog in themselves)



It was the summer of 2007 I believe. The youth group was making its yearly summer trek to Falls Creek in Davis, OK. The most amazing church camp ever. Settled in the middle of nowhere, where cellphone service is almost impossible. Surrounded by nothing but God’s beautiful creation. With an outdoor tabernacle to ensure you don’t escape the hot Oklahoma sun. I’d been to Falls Creek many times as a camper, but this was my first year as a sponsor.



Picture of the Devil's Bathtub I found online.
I don't know these people.



One of the most incredible beutiful places on the Falls Creek campus is the “Devils Bathtub”. The Devil’s Bathtub, is a natural spring nestled in the remote area of camp. It’s quite an adventure to even get there. Going down steep hills, walking along the forested path, pass the tree covered in years upon years of campers’ gum. But once you reach it. It is well worth it. The slippery rocks, the water you get to splash in.



There was a young camper named Katie. This was her first trip to Falls Creek, and she would have to leave early to go to cheercamp. I had told her about the Devil’s Bathtub and that before she left she HAD to go see it. I told her I would accompany her if she wanted.

The day before she was to leave she asked me if I would go with her. We corralled some other campers to go with us and started the journey in the blazing heat. Once we got there we splashed around and enjoyed the view.



We had taken our shoes off because the rocks were SO slippery. We had to be super careful. As we started to leave we were walking over the last few rocks. I was letting all the campers pass me to ensure that they all got across safely. Katie was the last camper to cross. I looked back at the Bathtub for one last look.

Then I looked back forward.



Just in enough time to see Katie fall. And scream the most hallowing scream I’ve ever heard.



I quickly bent down to her to make sure she was okay, and to help her up, when I noticed something quite strange. Something quite out of place.

Katie’s leg bone had poped out of the knee socket and was protruding out. There was no flesh wound, but her leg was very much distorted.



Something came about me that I didn’t even know I had in me. I went into this mother mode. I instructed one kid to not walk but RUN (yah, given the terrain that probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do) to the medical building. I instructed the others to run to the cabin to tell the other adults. Then I started yelling at the Devil’s Bathtub Life Guard guy holding the radio, asking him why he was staring at us in disbelief instead of using his radio to call for help.



It was as if the whole world stood still. All the splashing, the laughter, the campers playing came to a halt and everyone’s attention was focused on this beautiful little girl with a contorted leg laying on wet rocks. I had her head cradled in my lap trying to make her as comfortable as possible.



As I kept talking to her and trying to keep her mind focused on something else, she was just crying, and screaming that it hurt so bad. I told her to squeeze my hand, and it must have hurt so bad she had no strength to even do that. So as I caressed her head hoping to give her some sort of comfort I started to sing to her the first thing that popped in my mind “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine you make me happy when skies are graaay….” I couldn’t remember the rest, so Katie helped me remember and I even got a giggle out of her.

To this day, and I’m sure until the day I die, that song reminds me of her and that moment.



I was able to hold my compsure and be strong for Katie, until what seemed like forever… I finally heard the sirens of the ambulance coming down the mountainous terrain, and the rest of the adult sponsors racing towards us.

It wasn’t until everyone was huddled around us tending to Katie, her head still rested on my lap, that I had to turn my head as my strength broke and I started crying. I didn’t want her to see me cry, I wanted to be strong for her.



I was crying because I didn’t want her to hurt. I knew she needed to leave for cheercamp, and now she wouldn’t be able to. I felt like I should have gone in front of her and slipped on that rock. I should be the one on the ground in excruciating pain. It should have been me.

But it wasn’t.

God showed me that I was supposed to be on that cross. But I wasn’t.

I totally grasp and felt deep within my soul the sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus enduring the hurt, the pain for us. Of someone, a perfect person, receiving pain, torture, that they didn't deserve, that they took for me.



They finally stabilized Katie and put her on the stretcher to take her away. Freeing my lap and I from our duties as a pillow. I watched the ambulance speed away and broke again. Glad to be surrounded by my church family.



Everytime I think of the crucifixion, at Easter, when I see a picture of the cross, I think of Katie and remember of the ultimate sacrifice. I’m able to put it in a better perspective. To truly grasp what happened on that day so many years ago. To really feel it deep inside. To receive the Grace, and feel so truly thankful for it.

I know Katie, didn’t intentionally go out of her way to slip on the rock so I wouldn’t. However, this unfortunate accident showed me something, and taught me something that I will never forget for the rest of my life.

Polly, Katie & Me inside the Tabernacle