I ran into a special nail
I know not where it’s from
It fell in the middle of the road one time
And waited for me to come.
Then I did.
Many have come before me,
Many have treaded the same path,
But I was the only one,
Who ran into it when I passed.
What kind of happenstance?
Or was I meant for that circumstance?
To be perturbed by such a nail,
Which bore a hole in my tire …and soul.
Nails can injure superficially,
But also rip our flesh and hurt badly,
And although some could be avoided,
There’ll be a time we’ll find ourselves – nailed!
It’s almost funny how simple experiences such as tripping on a nail can teach us great lessons in life. I was driving home one time when suddenly, I felt one of my tires swerve. I pulled over to discover that my rear tire was flat. Looking closely, I found a huge nail which was not only stuck on the tire but was buried completely, only its head stuck out. Exasperated, I sought help to repair my flat tire right away. As it was being fixed, I came to realize a few insights which enabled me to appreciate that minor mishap.
Firstly, along our life’s journey, there are special nails especially meant for us to trip on. These nails are special because we aren’t the only ones journeying in life. And yet, for a reason many of us cannot right away fathom, that one nail reserved for us, finds us. Then we are changed – forever.
Second, we are bound to meet different kinds of nails. Some nails would be easy to spot and therefore, can be easily avoided. These nails could be the fake friends we should avoid, false hopes we should dismiss, or sheer pleasures we should shun. We should always be on guard for these kinds of nails.
Third, we are all vulnerable. While some nails can be easily avoided, there’d be nails especially meant for us alone. And so while a few may succeed in wounding us superficially, some could rip us up completely. A shallow injury could be in the form of a simple misunderstanding between friends or rejection from a job application. Deeper ones could be challenging such as being married to a difficult spouse, being tied up to a demanding career, or having to suffer an unstable health condition.
Fourth, no matter how much we try, at some point in our life, we can still get NAILED! There will always be a special nail reserved for us. Jesus exemplified this. Was it lack of discernment that led Him to fall into the trap of betrayal? No. Was it His cowardice that caused His crucifixion? No. Was His existence worthless because as God’s Only Son, He allowed (and even welcomed) His death by being nailed on the Cross? No! Because if He didn’t allow to be nailed on the Cross, where is our salvation? What would be the essence of our own existence?
Oftentimes, we become so judgmental of others condemning them for falling prey to their nails. Why? We smirk at a neighbor who cohabits with another, sneer at an ex-convict, and proclaim damnation for a prodigal child returning to his parents. For the most part, it’s easy for us to slam others for their vulnerability, carelessness, or folly and charge them guilty for causing their own misery.
Ever so often, we detest those who are nailed to their hapless circumstance. But are they truly guilty as charged? Can we condemn Jesus, God’s only Son, for allowing Himself to be nailed to the Cross?
No.
Those nails on the Cross were special. Jesus’ being nailed to that Cross was special. It was what His Father had intended for Him -- and for the entire humanity. He died so that we may live – eternally. It is the greatest paradox in human history. But it is the very essence of our existence. Like Christ, each of us is also destined to “suffer” from our own special nails. So while certain circumstances NAIL us, we are also destined to emerge triumphant – the same way Christ did.
Lord thank you for stopping us by
to remind us
that we have so much to thank You for in our lives
– nails (and crosses) included.
Amen.
