Stand Up Charlie!

I know it’s December. How about a little bit of summer.

Daddy and Pepop were taking us fishing. After parking in a grassy field, we pulled the fishing rods out of the car and walked along a dirt footpath to a small farm pond.

Trees lined the far bank and a pier lead out toward the middle of the pond. It wasn’t much, just pairs of pylons with long boards stretched between them. A clear sky over the calm waters along with our fishing poles promised a wonderful day. We were going fishing!

We walked out on the pier. I was enjoying the bounce of the boards and I promptly lost my balance. Arms flailing and legs flying, I landed on my back in the water. I couldn’t swim so I did all I knew to do. I kicked wildly, thrashed about and repeatedly screamed “Help!” I heard a voice above my shouting. It was Daddy hollering “Stand up Charlie, stand up!” Daddy reached down as I stood up in about eight inches of water. Crying and embarrassed I reached up and Daddy lifted me up to the pier. Kneeling down wiping the water off my face and placing his large hands on my sholders he reassured me that I was all right. Within minutes younger brother Richard and I were playing on the bank. The sun dried my clothes and new adventures evaporated my tears.

Richard and I didn’t do much fishing after that; He was four, I was five. We would rather explore around the pond than set quietly with a fishing pole waiting. There were beds of cat tails growing out of the water. Snake doctors zipped around in the bright blue sky, perched on the stalks and then quickly flew off again. Sticks, rocks, trees and birds – it was a paradise of adventure for two boys. We found a submerged skiff tied to a tree and tried our best to pull it up. Wouldn’t Daddy and Pepop be amazed to see us floating in a boat! It didn’t take us long to decide raising the boat was too much trouble and we moved on to other interests. Even after a potentially day-spoiling event this day stands out as one of my most enjoyable memories.

The lesson I learned that day is still with me years later. Instead of bouncing on a loose deck board I’m balancing my life: family, work, church. Some days It seemed like I flounder flat on my back, unable to lift myself up from despair, powerless to stay afloat. Then I heard my Heavenly Father say “Stand up Charlie stand up!”

 “. . . having done all, to stand. Stand . . .“ Ephesians 6:13b-14a NKJV

 The Lord reminded me of the words to an old hymn.

 “Lift me up above my weakness,

Lift me up into Thy strength,

Lift me up above the shadows,

Till I stand with Thee at length.

I could feel the mighty arms of God reaching down lifting me out of my troubles. He set me on my feet and His presence comforted me. I restarted my day. I wasn’t guaranteed success or failure, but God always had my back. At the end of the day His light of love had faded my anxiety.

By the time I got home things got even better. When I opened the door of my home my young children swamped me with a cloud of words – each wanting to tell me something important and asking me tons of questions, “Why?” was their favorite multiple-follow-up question. I would tell each of them I love you, listen to their adventures and troubles and answered their questions as best as I could. (Each answer was treated as if it came straight from Solomon.) Then my wife reached through the bouncing children and squeezed my hand. Her eyes told me not I’m not only smart, I’m also good looking. Even though the day started out bad thank the Lord and family it turned out to be a great day!

Back on my feet again. Having a great adventure.

“He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

Out of the miry clay,

And set my feet upon a rock,

And established my steps.

He has put a new song in my mouth—

Praise to our God;

Many will see it and fear,

And will trust in the Lord.”

Psalms 40:2-3 NKJV

Charles Woodruff is a seventy-year-old father of three and grandfather to two (and one on the way.) The top places on his love list are God and His Word, Wanda, his wife of forty-three years, and his grandchildren. He spent four years in the Air Force and thirty-three years in power plant maintenance and now is retired. Charles surrendered to Jesus at the age of nine. After serving Christ in His church for years as a teacher of all ages, from six to sixty plus, janitor, administrator, music director, etc. Charles realized that his calling was to be available. Charles favorite job in the church is self-appointed pastoral support and that includes using the words, “Amen” and “Good job Pastor!” Charles enjoys camping, astronomy and fixing things. His latest focus is studying the Bible, discovering God’s Laws about our relationship with Him, the physical world and his fellow human beings.

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