Slip Sliding Away

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." Matthew 18:1-5

Well I did this this weekend but not in the biblical sense.
I ended up at the Ice Rink with a deep knowledge that today I will not be sitting on the side line laughing at old folks trying their hand at skating again but would rather be joining them!!
I knew I was in trouble when I put these “new age” skates on made of hard plastic, last time I did this (20 odd years ago) the skates were made of leather and I couldn’t get the boot tied due to the laces being replaced with plastic straps.

There was further concern for me as I stood up and started walking to the nearest entrance/exit to the ice, I was seriously battling to keep my balance and after a few trips I almost greeted the wet rubber floor.
Needles to say that before I put a blade on the ice I had my nails sunk into the side barrier, it was a sad first round as I had five year old girls asking me if I could let them go past! My greatest problem was the skates wanting to fly out from under me until I realised that I am way to upright for this exercise, on the second round I lent a bit forward and things improved considerably.
I started venturing away from the barrier and realised it is easier to keep your balance with one hand not scraping the paint of the side of the rink. By the third round it all came back to me and I even started pushing with my skates to pick up speed, there after I never looked back and was skating like a ‘pro’.
As long as nobody turned in front of me all of a sudden (as my evasive skill was not that good) I was doing alright and with my dry bum had earned the right to stick my tongue out at five year old girls as I was now whizzing by them!

Over all it was an event to remember and I actually challenge anybody that is thirty something (or older) and was not a teenage figure skater to go and try Ice Skating just one last time before that hip replacement does not allow the opportunity!