Don't Let Me Fall, Father

I once attended a Vigil Mass at a parish where my close friend, Fr. Kevin, serves as Associate Pastor. After Mass ended, I briefly chatted with him in the narthex, and when we were saying goodbye, I noticed an old man and woman outside, struggling near their car. I told Fr. Kevin that it looked like they needed help, so we went outside to assist them.

The elderly man had gotten his walker stuck in a crack near the handicap ramp and was struggling to move without falling. I asked how I could help and then moved to his left side, putting almost my entire body under his left armpit to give him sturdy support. With the women on his right side doing the same thing, another man behind him, and Fr. Kevin standing in front of him, the man was definitely supported. He kept yelling though, as if in pain, because he couldn’t move his right leg. We discovered that he had had a stroke a while ago, which causes his leg to get really stiff every once in a while. The old man looked up and looked right at Fr. Kevin, and with desperation and fear in his voice, he said, “Don’t let me fall, Father.” He kept repeating it, and Fr. Kevin assured him that he wouldn’t.

After a few short breaks so that the man could catch his breath and adjust his weight, we successfully got the man from the sidewalk and into his car. Fr. Kevin gave him a fist bump to congratulate him, saying, “You made it!” Then, we all went our separate ways.

I think about this scene often for different reasons.

First, I think this is one of the reasons why we were sent the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t want us to fall. God doesn’t want us to feel alone and unsupported. He sends Himself, through the Person of the Holy Spirit, as an Advocate and Companion to be with us always so that we will NEVER be alone and will feel supported even if we feel like we’re falling.

Second, everything about the situation was an inconvenience. The man’s health and failing body prevented him from getting into his car and leaving Mass normally. His situation inconvenienced Fr. Kevin and I, who were both headed off to the next thing on our schedules. And yet, we both saw the need right in front of us, and nothing else mattered except helping our brother in Christ, supporting him so he wouldn’t fall and helping him get into his car.

“Don’t let me fall, Father.”

There have probably been times that you’ve said these words, or some version of them, in your life – I know I have, especially when I feel like I am on unsteady ground or when I feel weak. However, the truth is that even though temptation and desolation will come throughout our spiritual journey, the Father will never let you fall. He, Himself, will help hold you up, but He will also send others to help hold you up. We should strive to be that firm foundation for others and make known the reality that the Father always supports each of us and never lets us fall.