Fall Risk: Insights from Across the Pond

A special thank you to my brother across the pond, Andy B, for putting together this beautiful word. Earlier this summer, I asked Andy if he’d be willing to share how God has shown up in his life this year. He graciously agreed to answer my question with a guest post.

Without further delay…

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Fall Risk

Firstly, no, this post has nothing to do with the danger of Autumn occurring suddenly without our prior knowledge.

And oddly, although less so if you know me at all, it also isn’t about working out who may be at risk of falling. Quite the contrary!

The Procedure

I had scheduled heart surgery recently and, at 47, I felt VERY young as I scanned the faces of all the other men on the Cardiology Ward.

My actual procedure was a “Radio-frequency Ablation” which takes 1 to 2 hours, with a team of 5, in “The Lab”. Other than the impressive amount of technology squeezed into that pretty small room, I don’t know why it’s called a lab.

But I do know that 2 holes were made into a vein in my thigh, where multiple catheters were then fed up to my heart. 

From there they confirmed the exact node of the heart that was sending out extra electrical signals, and burned multiple scars into it so it couldn’t confuse my heart any longer.

The surgery completed, I then had 4 to 6 hours of enforced bed rest. 

Nurses move you to sitting up, drinking fluids again and then you are told to start walking, as soon as you can – to aid recovery.

But that sitting up is where the risk begins because having been totally still and flat on your back for many hours  you’re easily prone to having a dramatic drop in blood pressure. 

Which is what happened to me: I nearly passed out as my BP dropped to half of what it had been just moments earlier.

I was now a confirmed “Fall Risk”. I also, now, understood why I had a bright yellow arm band for all to see.

Watch out for one another

We know, from scripture, that people who have just decided to start following Jesus are at risk of falling. 

But I need to point out that you are equally at risk of falling over too!

Perhaps you consider yourself older and wiser; above such issues. But the reality is that you’re just at risk of falling, only for different reasons.

As I age the one issue I see repeated constantly, in churches and communities all around the world, is how easily and quickly we react, with anger, when a well known leader ‘falls from grace’.

We’re quick enough to say “how could that person be allowed to operate that way” or “look at the harm they caused”. But I am also struck by the silence of so many, who I must assume knew something was happening but chose to remain silent.

And, just while we’re here, victims are never at fault for being victimized – they’ve been victimized!

An admission. And a caveat…

Perhaps it might help if we all wore a “fall risk” wrist band in bright yellow for all to see. Because, in reality, we are all at risk of doing so, every single moment of every single day.

My name is Andy B and I make mistakes every day. 

Look closely enough and you’ll easily spot some.

I am human, and so should be considered a fall risk at all times.

If you see me walking towards a cliff please say something.

If you see someone you know who needs warning about their direction of travel, don’t wait until they’ve fallen to point it out!

And, equally, if you speak into someone else’s life understand that you’re simultaneously allowing them to correct your path too.

Put simply, telling someone they should have avoided o they banged their head on will not help anybody.

But standing ‘in the gap’ so they are easily able to choose to avoid that same ceiling? That’s the way to go, and exactly what Jesus did: “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone”.

PS Sadly, today, this last addendum needs stating – if you ever spot something illegal, call the police!

Andy B is CEO of www.Pure247Radio.org and author of 2 books: You can find out more about him at www.AndyBerry.co.uk

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I’d like to thank my friend from the UK for graciously sharing his thoughts and experiences with this guest post.

How has God shown up in your life in 2024?

Until next time…

God is good. All the time. 

No matter what.

Know you are loved.

Praying for you. Praying for America.

Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™

#JesusStrong