I call them “Helmet Days.” They’re the days when life comes at me hard. Sometimes it’s me that takes the hit, but honestly I can weather those better than the days I have to watch those I love writhe from the pain. The thing is, my helmet is invisible. You can’t tell from looking at me that it’s one of those days.
We all have “helmet days” when we are challenged, when we are pressed, when we are hit hard without warning. I think of Paul’s words in Ephesians about the “Armor of God.” There is the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, the sword of the Spirit in the expressed Word of God, and the helmet of salvation that protects us from evil. The armor is a way to resist evil and to stand firm. And I realize all over again that my journey is similar to that of generations of others and the LORD has been with each one of us.
On “helmet days,” I find myself simply turning to the LORD who knows what I face as well if not better than I. He knows the challenges. He is empathetic to my suffering. He knows what I need better than I do. We have a shorthand, a code, me and the LORD. I simply stop and admit, “LORD, it’s a helmet day.” And then I acknowledge humbly my need, “Lead me.”
Last evening at bible study, as we talked about our lives and the struggles of our loved ones, I realized in a very real way that my friends in faith have “helmet days”, too. Everyone, to the woman, carries lovingly the needs and concerns of self and loved ones. Life is both a blessing and a challenge. Looking around the room at several perfectly coiffured heads, one might miss the spiritual helmets each one wears.
Our LORD is with us. Our LORD loves us and leads us. Our journeys to rest in the LORD are blessed and challenging, both. Let us armor up. And let us be aware that we most probabley stand among others experiencing a helmet day.
Until tomorrow, let us all love well.
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