On Hollowed ground
Posted by theworldgonemad on September 17, 2009
So, it was skate night for part of the Baker Fam, and I had been looking forward to this since I heard about it last week.
I asked my eldest son if I could borrow my skates once again…he had been using them for a few events. I was a little unsure as to if I could still fit into them, however I had not changed foot size for a while, and fortunately I could still squeeze into them. (these are skates from 8th grade…nearly 20 years ago)
We arrived at the rink and we slid to the back where they were shoveling out what I hoped to be skates which had ran through every cleaner, steamer, and sanitizer known to man before my kids feet were about to be shoved into a shoe only God knows into which how many other kids’ feet have been pushed.
I sat down with Nichlas, our youngest, and began to help him get the boots on…loosening the shoestrings, pulling the tongue, and as we are going through this process his eyes gaze over at the large rink, and the floor, and the other skaters. A bright smile begins to emerge from what once was a scared and stiff upper lip. His eyes widened with a soft glow emitting excitement and wonder and anticipation for the fun which lie directly ahead. He had only been skating a couple of times and was a real trooper, falls down, seconds later…he is right back up.
We finished double and triple knotting the strings (I’m a worry wart…sue me) And he was off like a shot. He inched his way to the rink floor, and being careful to not step into he way of any kids…slowly began to skate. As many beginners do, at first he stuck close to the wall, and then ventured to the middle, and soon he was all over the floor…still inching his way around, but with a smile that shouted “fun”! I quickly threw my skates on so that I could join him in his careful trot around the oval rink…I wanted so much to be a part of that moment.
We joined hands and strolled up and down the rink paying no mind to the speed skaters, the music, or anything else really, but rather tuned out the world and simply enjoyed. I felt the Lord asking me to remove my skates…for I was on hollowed ground.
