Each Saturday a truck of groceries were delivered to Shop Rite. We set up a conveyer system of rollers. Each item would be set on the rollers and pushed off the truck. One of us would catch the box, place it on another roller, and shove it toward the back door. Another would catch it, place it on another roller, and shove it into the stock room. From there, the item would be placed on the floor according to the aisle it would be stocked. After unloading hundreds of pieces, we would each take an aisle and put up the stock. We tried to finish by 6:00 p.m., but you stayed until it was done.
Sugar came in "bails". There were twelve 5 lbs. bags in each bail. They were on special that week and we had ordered several bails. Urban was at least four inches taller than me, weighed several more pounds, and was much stronger. Together we stacked these bails of sugar as high as we could throw them. He could toss them with ease toward the ceiling. I could toss them, but certainly not with ease! I was determined not to let him "win" and throw the bails higher! We were down to our last bail or two. I picked up the bail, propped it on my right shoulder, and gave it a shove. I felt a sharp pain in my lower back. The bail of sugar fell to the floor. I fell too! I had to sit there several minutes before I could even move, much less get up. I finished the day of stocking. It was my turn to stay and close the store. I was ready to go home that night. Little did I know that I had sustained an injury that would haunt me until this day.
What did I learn? Pushing yourself to your limits is a good thing. We grow that way. However, some things are too heavy! If you are trying to operate far beyond your limitations, you can expect problems. I learned that Solomon was right about pride; Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."