Klutz (noun): a person who often drops things, falls down, etc. : a clumsy person. Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Have you ever watched a Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin movie? These gymnastic masters would trip, fall, and get entangled in all kinds of fantastic sight gags. Unfortunately, what they did deliberately, I do accidentally.
I am a klutz.
I have told many people about this, and they don’t believe it, until . . . . well, you know.
Just this past week I dropped something and it took me about 3 tries to finally pick it up. I have stubbed my little toe so many times, it is permanently curved at a strange angle. I looked like a raccoon for about 3 weeks when I hit myself on my glasses with the handle of a hand truck, causing double black eyes.
So, I have learned to take precautions. In the photo on the right, most people would call the item a travel coffee mug. I call it my adult sippy cup. That’s so I won’t spill my beverage when (not if) I tip it over. This is my third travel mug in three years. I lost one and broke the top on the second. Yes, you can even break a metal one if you drop it from a sufficient height onto its edge, on concrete.
I need to be cautious spiritually too. I learned the hard way, when I was a young Christian, that just about the time I thought I had a temptation conquered was my point of greatest probability of falling into it. The best way for me to prevent sin is to recognize I am never safe, that I need warning and encouragement from other believers, and that I must constantly depend on the power and control of the Holy Spirit in my life to overcome.
Paul David Tripp discusses this problem in his book, Dangerous Calling, pages 151-2: “I thought I had spiritually arrived. I had a scary self-assurance. . . . And when you think you’ve arrived, when you quit being convicted of and broken by your own weakness, failure, and sins, you will begin to make bad personal choices . . . It is your delusions of strength that will get you in trouble. . . .”
Both the Old and New Testaments have many warnings to be wise and guard our hearts. The Apostle Paul wrote to his friends:
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Galatians 6:1
What things in your life present the greatest temptations for you?
What are your triggers and how can you avoid them?
Do you have an accountability partner? Who can you call for help when you are tempted?
Memorize Scripture verses that apply to the problems and think about those instead.
Lines from Lynn 
You know, my friend, that I do believe you. Because I witnessed the hand truck incident, and others as well. What a great analogy to our spiritual life. You also know what is my greatest battle with temptation. I DO need to weigh in weekly, or I’ve lost the battle. Thanks for the post.
I love your word pictures! And your delightful sense of humor! Humor always makes me remember so much easier than harsh reality. I appreciate this picture–I too am a spiritual klutz with butter fingers, ten thumbs and no sense of balance. Thanks for the input, my friend.