……We have all suffered, and will suffer, our own
falls. The fall from youthful ideals, the waning of
physical strength, the failure of a cherished hope,
the loss of our near and dear, the fall into injury or
sickness, and late or soon, the fall to our certain
ends. We have no choice but to fall, and little say as TO THE TIME OR THE MEANS …
We are all—all of us—falling. We are all, now, this
moment, in the midst of that descent, fallen from
heights that may now seem only a dimly remembered dream, falling toward a depth we can only imagine….
And so let us pray that if we are falling from grace,
dear God let us also fall with grace, to grace. If we
are falling toward pain and weakness, let us also fall toward sweetness and strength. If we are falling toward death, let us also fall toward life.”
( Learning to fall, The Blessings of imperfect life;
Philip Simmons)
