falling – Grits with Grace

friends, life, loving others, Scripture, thankful, travel

Chief Wounded Cheek

Posted on May 27, 2025May 26, 2025 by Dewayne Taylor

“For all have sinned.” Romans 3:23a

Turns out this falling thing isn’t new. If you are a regular reader of Grits, you might remember that about once a year I decide to see if my body will still bounce. A couple of years ago it was Indian Point Trail. I tripped over a root and before you could say, “shoot that thang” I was stretched out flat on my face. It was painful. Then a year later I hung my toe on the edge of my patio and did it all over again. And yes, I fell hard and yes, it hurt. In fact, my hand still be bears the scars from that one. And then, last summer, in the mother of all falls, a mule named Daisy and I parted company. Ouch.

So, the other day, I was thinking (I sometimes do that) and remembered another time and another fall and this one garnered me a new name. When I pastored another church in another town, we had a great guy named Bob who would take a bunch of us to the Smoky Mountains and hike to the top of Mount Le Conte. We did this for several years and I am pretty sure I made the trip each time. We would leave early and get to the mountains around mid-afternoon.

Bob was a pro at this hiking stuff, and he knew the importance of warming up. So that afternoon, the day before the big hike, we would take a warmup hike. I remember one time the warmup hike was the Chimneys and if you have ever done that one you know it isn’t that long but it is a killer. As I remember, the warmups made the real deal almost anti-climactic. And then, there was another time that I remember…well.

So, we got to the mountains and prepared for the warmup. This one, as I remember, wasn’t straight up…in fact it was kinda level but it did involve crossing a couple of boulder strewn creeks. And crossing one of those creeks gave me a new name. As we crossed, we carefully picked our way over and around the rocks…leaning on our hiking sticks and trying to stay dry. We did pretty good…I did pretty good…until I didn’t. Yup…you guessed it…down I went.

Gratefully, back then I bounced even better than I do now. That time I didn’t fall flat on my face, I didn’t fall on my side, I fell on my, uh, well, my bottom. It all happened in a split second, and I am sure if my pants hadn’t been double stitched, I would have split something else. Well, once everyone determined that I wasn’t mortally wounded, the laughter started. The sight of their fearless pastor laying, sitting catawampus—half in and half out the water—was too much to contain.

And then someone, who knows who, said it. “It” was my new name. They said, “Look there is “Chief Wounded Cheek.” Well, then everyone, and I mean everyone, started laughing again. Well, they helped me out and up and we continued our warmup hike but for the rest of the trip and several months later, I was “Chief Wounded Cheek.” Even to this day the memories make me smile because we had shared life together and laughed together.

There is one more thing that I so appreciated about that special group of friends, and friends like them through the years—they allowed me to be human. You see sometimes people like to put leaders on some sort of pedestal. The problem is that is a place they should never be because if and when they fall, well, sometimes it is unrecoverable. One of the best things you can do for a leader is love them, respect them, but allow them to be human. And what is true of leaders and pastors is true of husbands, wives, and yes, parents. Remember, we all walk on clay feet.

Well, I’m glad to report that Chief Wounded Cheek is still bouncing along and gratefully most of the time, most of the people allow me to be human. Paul, the guy who wrote a large portion of the New Testament, reminded us that everyone of us are sinners—you know, broken people. At one time or another, we have all messed up. The good news is that failure doesn’t have to be final. The other good news is if we are wise, we will learn when we fail. Someone said, “If you aren’t failing, you aren’t learning.” I like that. Oh, and the final good news is that when we fail, there is someone standing by who says, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Grace, life, pride, Scripture, travel, Trials, wisdom

Falling For Indian Point

Posted on December 18, 2024December 9, 2024 by Dewayne Taylor

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” Psalm 37:23-24

I fell and I fell hard. It was a Sunday afternoon a few years ago. I had the opportunity to speak a couple of times at the church where I pastored and it was, as always, one of the things I just enjoy. I love sharing and watching truth come alive in people. It was a great day to be at church too because every Sunday someone new came back from the COVID blip. Each Sunday was like Christmas morning and a family reunion all rolled into one. After church there was lunch with a couple of friends and family and then…wait for it…the nap.

There is something about a Sunday afternoon nap that is almost sacred. After speaking and eating, napping is just a natural. Well, after all the essentials were done, I decided to…take a hike. My wife Judy was down south visiting family so I had some time to myself. I really enjoy hiking with her but second best is just taking a hike. It was a beautiful day and Judy and I had talked several times about trying a trail called Indian Point. That was my destination. So after a short drive, I arrived and was glad to find it wasn’t too crowded

So, I hopped out of the car and off I went. I forgot my hiking stick in the trunk until I was about ten minutes in and I would regret that a little later but hey. The first part of the trail was like a nice walk in the woods. There were plenty of rocks and roots to avoid but not enough to distract from the beauty around me. I slowly ascended and soon, off to my right, I began noticing spurs off the trail that led to various lookouts. They were amazing. Atop large rock formations, the valley below spread out like a beautiful quilt in various shades of green. God impressed me…again.

Soon I was back on the trail, still amazed and still climbing up. Before long, I could see what had to be the trail’s name sake…Indian Point. It was a large rock outcropping many, many yards wide and it just invited you to come and see. So, I stepped up the pace in anticipation of what was coming. I should have been a little more careful. On my way to the point, I suddenly had an unexpected experience. As I was walking and as I was looking ahead, the toe of my boot caught a small root knob and, well, it wasn’t pretty.

I’m not sure if my hiking stick would have saved me or not but since it was back in the car that didn’t matter. I stumbled for one step and then just fell. There was no time to break the fall, no time to put my hand out—I fell and I fell hard. I landed on my left side and frankly for the first few seconds I was just stunned. And then, in a moment of brilliance, I said, out loud, “That hurt.” And it did. In my pride, I was immediately glad that no one was around to see my descent and painful crash landing.

I slowly, ever so slowly, stood up and accessed the damages. First, thankfully, it involved no blood but it did include a large knot on my left forearm, a banged-up knee and a rib cage that said, “Ouch.” Ok, so, I proceeded to the lookout, determined not to let what had happened rob me of the moment—and it didn’t. I continued on the trail and what lay before me was just amazing. The incredible rock bluffs, caves and flowering trees were amazing. I was blown away. God was obviously showing off when He made this part of Southern Illinois.

So, I made it back to the car and, yes, there were definitely some sore body parts. A few minutes later, I had to cough and I quickly found out just how sore my ribcage was. When I got home, I found out I couldn’t even bend over to get my boots off. The good news is that after taking too much Ibuprofen, I could. For the record, I wouldn’t have missed the hike for anything. I can’t wait to take Judy with me.

My big take away wasn’t the fact that I fell, or that I was going too fast, or that I should have been paying closer attention—though all those are valid. My big take away—and don’t miss this—was how something so small could cause me to fall so hard. The root knob was probably two inches high but it was all that was needed to bring me down. For all my trails in my future, at least as long as I remember how bad this hurt, I will probably be a little more careful. I know I was a bit sloppy in my walking but it’s hard to look down when things above are so beautiful. There’s a lot of truth in that one!

My Dearest Daddy, of course, knew all about all of this and you might want to debate His goodness. If He is so good why this and why that but you would be missing the point. The fact is…I walked away. The fact is…this morning, I can move. The fact is…I was able to enjoy the rest of the hike. The fact is…He is a good, good Father. One of my favorite Bible verses says that He directs my steps and even if I do fall, He is there to pick me up. I like that…a lot and He was there to pick me up. And, He will be there to pick you up.

So, if you have some time and enjoy hiking, take a hike on Indian Point trail in Southern Illinois and be prepared to be impressed. Watch for the rocks and the roots and don’t get too much in a hurry. You might take a tumble or miss something spectacular. And don’t be afraid because whether it is a trail or day at the office, or no matter what, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

Boom, Crash, Ouch!

Posted on April 3, 2024April 2, 2024 by Dewayne Taylor

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” Romans 8:28

Well, it happened again. It was Saturday evening and it had been a good day. I was able to get a lot of yard work done including mowing my yard. I found out, though, that I had violated a cardinal rule. In Southern Illinois you never, and I mean never, mow the yard before the first of April. My neighbor and some guys at church told me all about it. Oops. Anyway, it was a good day. Later that afternoon my wife Judy and I went to eat at our favorite local restaurant and came home to study and prepare for Sunday.

As I entered the kitchen, I saw a box of tools that I had been using for various inside projects. My wife Judy had asked me earlier if I was done with them and I said yes. That was code for “Hey, get your tools out of my kitchen and back in the garage.” Got it…it just took me a while. So, seeing the box of tools, I picked them up and carried them to the garage. I could feel Judy smiling. While I was in the garage, I saw a bottle of algae killer which reminded me that our little goldfish pond had looked more than a little green earlier in the day. I grabbed the bottle, went out to the pond, and gave it a dose. Check.

So, I went back to the garage, put the algae stuff back on my work bench and headed back into the house when I saw it. It was the net that I use to get floating stuff out of the pond. Well, having just visited the pond I knew there was plenty of stuff floating in the water, so I grabbed the net and headed back to the pond. I should have quit while I was ahead. As I bounded up the single step from my driveway and onto the patio, I caught my toe on the edge of the concrete and fell…hard…real hard.

Part of this happened at hyper-speed and part of it happened in slow motion. The falling part of fast but it all seemed to slow down as I watched my extended fingers and hand hit the concrete and bend in a direction they were never meant to go. It wasn’t pretty. I was stunned and I was hurting. Remember the commercial for the lady who falls and says, “Help, I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up.”? Well, that was me. My hand wouldn’t work, and my body just hurt. After several minutes I rolled around and managed to sit up and then get up.

I made it into the house and told Judy I had fallen, hard. Amazingly, most of my body still worked but my hand didn’t fare so well. I will spare you all the details, but the good news is that nothing was broken and none of the tendons were torn. They were stretched and strained but the doctor said in a week or two they should heal. Someone asked if I lost my religion in all of that and the answer was, “No.” In fact, the first thing I thought, when I could think, was “thank you, Lord.” Why? Well, here’s the short list.

First, it was my right hand and for once I was grateful since I am left-handed. A lot of what I do involves a pen and a keyboard. So, while it was a bit inconvenient it was not life changing. God was good. Second, my vintage 1954 model body still bounces well. It really could have been a different story. Many a person has had a less dangerous fall than mine and didn’t fare so well. And finally—people. Judy was there for me and when I got to church and shared some of this during a preaching time (I’m a pastor) so many were concerned. It’s lovely to be loved.

I had a quote in that morning’s message that said something I needed to hear…and you need to hear. It goes like this, “Trust [in God] is believing that when everything seems to be falling apart it is actually God arranging things just the way He wants them.” Boom! You see, I am sure God has all kind of good things to teach me through this. And it made a great sermon illustration and gave me one more “Grits” story. Thank you, Lord.

I remember how my hand was sore, bruised, and swollen for months. I’ve grown up with mismatched ears and now I have mismatched hands. Go figure. If you don’t mind me using an overused verse from the Bible, remember what Paul said in Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” It’s true and He proves it over and over again. Oh, and I think I can tell you with certainty one more thing, one more time. Write it down, take it to the bank, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, Military memories, priorities, Southern born, thankful, Trials, wisdom

Busted Again

Posted on May 10, 2022May 9, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

Do not love the world [its ways, its principles] or the things in the world. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.” 1 John 2:15-16

You know, some folks are just slow learners. My time in Minot was short—from October to April—but filled with memories. The base was about 20 miles from town and only a couple of guys had cars. We would load up and drive into town at negative twenty degrees with all the windows down to play “freeze out.” We would see how long we could stand the cold. The radio would be blaring John Denver’s “Take Me Home Country Roads.” Hey, there wasn’t a lot to do—especially in Minot in the dead of winter.

So, as a southern boy, this cold weather stuff was all new to me. Some things I just couldn’t get the hang of. One of those was walking on ice. Now I had been walking since I was about 18 months old. The difference was up in Minot you must learn to walk on ice. The winter of 1972-73 was a great opportunity to do so. I was able to go home for Christmas. I was dreaming of a green and not white Christmas. Up until that time it had been cold, but we had very little snow. That was kinda unusual—especially for Minot.

Well, while I was home for Christmas they had a whopper snow —and I’m not talking about Burger King. Something like two feet of snow fell. But what happened after the snow was chilling—literally. It melted…all of it. Somehow it got well above freezing for a week or so which melted the snow and then it happened. The temperature plunged to below zero and stayed there. Forever.

What was left behind were vast sheets of ice. Everywhere you looked or walked there was ice. I didn’t have a car which meant I had to walk to and from work. So, I would put on my arctic parka, my arctic gloves, pull my arctic hood up and take a hike. I would walk one way going and another way coming. Going to work was not a deal. I managed to make it without falling…or at least not multiple times. Going home? Well, that’s a different story.

About halfway there I would have to walk around the corner of a building. So, off I go. I get to this corner and not paying attention, stepped onto a sheet of ice. Bam. In two seconds flat—I was flat on my back. Because of the parka nothing was damaged except my pride. Score one for the ice. Day two. I’m walking home and come to the exact same spot. I eye the ice and ever so carefully step on it and in two seconds flat I am flat on my back. Bummer. I crawl back upright, making sure no one is watching, and press on.

Day three. I get to the corner for the third time. I know the ice is there. In fact, we’ve become close friends. I gingerly step on the ice…nothing happens. As I take my second step and in two seconds -I am flat on my back. Excuse me? Is this Ground Hog Day or what? Anyway, for the third time I crawl off the ice and head on back to the dorm. By this time more than my pride was bruised.

I know what you are thinking. Why don’t you take a different path? Why did you keep doing the same thing and expecting different results? The answer is…I don’t have a clue. Thought I could beat it? Thought it was closer? Thought if I fell enough, I would break the ice before it broke me? I don’t know. I was stubborn. I was a slow learner. I was doing the same thing and expecting different results.

Isn’t that what we do in life? Don’t we journey along and come to a decision point and fall flat? Don’t we sometimes do it again on Day 2? Day 3? You know, walking on ice is one thing. However, flirting with disaster, the kind that has big regrets and bigger consequences, is another. God knows this and tells us not to fall in love with the world—its ways, its principles, its stuff. Remember your momma saying, don’t date someone you don’t want to marry? Same principle. Flirt with the world, date the world and you’ll end up marrying the world.

John—the guy in the Bible—says in 1 John 2:16, “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.” When you say, “I do” with the world you end up with twins—regrets and consequences. Life is harder…a lot harder. Harder than walking on ice.

So, I finally did take a different route. They say that three times is a charm. It took me four, but I did learn. On day four…I didn’t fall. I didn’t fall on day five either. In fact, I don’t remember falling again. Why? I didn’t go that way. I chose a different route and that route, that path, had different consequences—better consequences.

They also say that three strikes and you are out. True in baseball but fortunately it isn’t true with God. He keeps picking us up, dusting us off and helping us find the right path—one with less ice. When I fell, I would quickly look to make sure no one was watching. When we fall in life, we can rest assured Someone is watching…our Abba Father. He’s got is His eye on us. So, be careful out there it can be icy but don’t worry, you aren’t alone. He’s always there. Rest in Him knowing He will be there to pick you up. After all, He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Military memories, Scripture

Minot Memories – Walking on Ice

Posted on May 19, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

Do not love the world [its ways, it principles] or the things in the world. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world.” 1 John 2:15-16

So, as a southern boy, this cold weather stuff was all new to me. Some things I just couldn’t get the hang of. One of those was walking on ice. Now I had been walking since I was about 18 months old. The difference was up in Minot you have to learn to walk on ice. The winter of 1972-73 was a great opportunity to do so. I was able to go home for Christmas. I was dreaming of a green and not white Christmas. Up until that time it had been cold, but we had very little snow. That was kinda unusual—especially for Minot.

What was left behind were vast sheets of ice. Everywhere you looked or walked there was ice. I didn’t have a car which meant I had to walk to and from work. So I would put on my arctic parka, my arctic gloves, pull my arctic hood up and take a hike. I would walk one way going and another way coming. Going to work was not a deal. I managed to make it without falling…or at least not multiple times. Going home? Well, that’s a different story.

About halfway there I would have to walk around the corner of a building. So, off I go. I get to this corner and not paying attention, stepped onto a sheet of ice. Bam. In two seconds flat- I was flat on my back. Because of the parka nothing was damaged except my pride. Score one for the ice. Day two. I’m walking home and come to the exact same spot. I eye the ice and ever so carefully step on and in two seconds flat I am flat on my back. Bummer. I crawl back upright, making sure no one is watching, and press on.

Day three. I get to the corner for the third time. I know the ice is there. In fact, we’ve become close friends. I gingerly step on the ice…nothing happens. As I take my second step in two seconds flat -I am flat on my back. Excuse me? Is this Ground Hog Day or what? Anyway, for the third time I crawl off the ice and head on back to the dorm. By this time more than my pride was bruised.

I know what you are thinking. Why don’t you take a different path? Why did you keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. The answer is…I don’t have a clue. Thought I could beat it? Thought it was closer? Thought if I fell enough I would break the ice before it broke me? I don’t know. I was stubborn. I was a slow learner. I was doing the same thing and expecting different results.

Isn’t that what we do in life? Don’t we journey along and come to a decision point and fall flat? Don’t we sometimes do it again on Day 2? Day 3? You know, walking on ice is one thing. However, flirting with disaster, the kind that has big regrets and bigger consequences, that is another. God knows this and tells us not to fall in love with the world—its ways, its principles, its stuff. Remember your mama saying, don’t date someone you don’t want to marry? Same principle. Flirt with the world, date the world and you’ll end up marrying the world.

John—the guy in the Bible—says in 1 John 2:16, “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world.” When you say, “I do” with the world you end of with twins—regrets and consequences. Life is harder…a lot harder. Harder than walking on ice.

So, I finally did take a different route. They say that three times is a charm. It took me four but I did learn. On day four…I didn’t fall. I didn’t fall on day five either. In fact, I don’t remember falling again. Why? I didn’t go that way. I chose a different route and that route, that path, had different consequences—better consequences. They also say that three strikes and you are out. True in baseball but fortunately it isn’t true with God. He keeps picking us up, dusting us off and helping us find the right path—one with less ice. When I fell I would quickly look to make sure no one was watching. When we fall in life we can rest assured someone is watching…our Abba Father. He’s got is His eye on us. So, be careful out there it can be pretty icy but don’t worry you aren’t alone. He’s always there. Rest in Him knowing He will be there to pick you up. After all, He’s got this.