One of the things I love to do is go to theme parks. The Disney Parks are my favorite. I enjoy the rides in the parks that give you an adventure with each turn, moment, thrill and surprise. I will ride some of the rides two or three times. I enjoy the roller coasters the most. The rides where the tracks twist and turn and catch me off guard… the steep ups and downs-are a thrill a minute!
The emotions that surface can be such a surprise that it makes every second on the ride exciting. Feelings like surprise, shock, FEAR, out of control, the unknown, wonder, THRILLS, anticipation, contemplation, victory, satisfaction, concern, TRIUMPH, acceleration, calm before the storm, and FREEDOM…are all part of the ride. The ride choices for people are as different as the person themselves. Some people like thrill rides…that are filled with all kinds of scary emotions, while others like calmer rides that induce a sense of peace. I happen to like the thrill rides in combination with the slower scenic ones.
Life is like the rides at an amusement park. Sometimes life feels like one roller coaster after another with very few slower rides. My life seems to have contained a lot more roller coasters than peaceful slow rides. I have tried to enjoy the thrill rides and appreciate the calm of life. I try not to let the scary parts or steep hills discourage or get me down. I try to ride the waves and sometimes I hold on for dear life. After every rough ride I have learned something and grown in my faith in God.
The amusement park of my life has not been easy or trouble free…but it has been a rich experience and I have met some amazing people along the way. I regret some of the rides I chose to ride and some of the ways I handled my emotions during the scary times. For the most part I am happy and proud of my experiences and have tried to make the best of every situation.
Since I have been a follower of Jesus my entire life…He has been on every ride with me no matter how scary or dark. Even those times when I didn’t think or feel that He was there. I have discovered that He has never left me. As I have grown in my relationship with Him…I know that I can share the ride with Him and receive anything I need to make it through. He makes the experience full of the good things in life. With Him I experience joy, love, happiness, passion, fun, confidence, hope, success, and more than I ever imagined in a lifetime.
One of the best things about going to an amusement park and riding the rides…is going with someone and sharing the experiences. I enjoy those who have come along with me. I am excited to meet people who have already arrived. I love to share with them just how great it is to have the Lord along. I have a blast with friends and family as we excitedly go on one ride after another experiencing all that comes our way. My life is never dull. I don’t need one thrill ride after the next. I’m also content to enjoy the calm, and peaceful rides. I appreciate them…as they help fill my soul. I enjoy the teaching moments and take responsibility for choices that I make. No matter what ride I experience…I will be fully engaged and enjoy the ride.
I am not sure how many more rides I am going to take in this life…I am hoping years of rides. I intend to continue to handle each and every one with the integrity and poise of a follower of Jesus. He is the power behind each and every step I take. I will hold on to the hand of my Savior and hold loosely to the things that are of this earth. I will follow Jesus for life until He takes me to the adventure of Heaven.
Psalms 25:16 ” Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress. Consider my affliction and my double, and forgive all my sins.”
Psalms 27: 1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” vs 4 “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord…”
James 1:2-3-6 ” My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing by joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind…”
Not trusting in God will keep you on a true roller coaster of life with no relief. So have faith that the Lord will help you enjoy the rides and give you the time of your life.
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I think I just lost my Lunch. Life is truly a roller coaster and one reason I love to watch people, what better entertainment. I think also that my journal is also a roller coaster, it reflects my own up’s and down’s and shows me recovery as well hope. It read’s back growth and personal progress as well as mapping change and peace of mind and a knowing that I am not alone but sometimes need quiet times to reflect and let a higher power hold on to some of the pain and loss in life, at times just to say Lord I release this struggle unto you. My part is acknowledging I don’t have all the answers and bitterness helps no one, it fosters resentment and removes Grace and Forgiveness, something we all need promote, He gave us hope!
When I go to a park with family or friends, it is interesting how we all divide and conquer the Park. Those of us who love the fast rides that are often scary will team up together and ride the slower rides almost as a sacrifice. Maybe we have some young children in our group and they are not tall enough to go on the rides we deem exciting. We then will take turns riding with the older folks or children who are on the Merry-Go-Round or the bumper cars.
I have known a lot of people in my life that seem to need to have a life that is always filled with drama. They seem to be bothered by easy going times in their life. They are often the ones that say they are, “Bored”. They are comfortable with lives that go 90 miles an hour. They seem to constantly be stretched for cash, or needing help with bills. They appear to live somewhat impulsively.
As a counselor, I sit and listen week after week of one tangled mess after another. We unravel one problem, only to have another one to solve the next week. Hopefully they come to realize that their complicated life is a result of choices they continue to make. Some come to see that they create so much noise in their lives because they are afraid of being quiet.
I have been some scary rides for the past two weeks. I am leaving a job I have had for over twenty years. My center is closing along with several others in the area due to lack of business. Helping my team through this life change has been tough and we have gone through the full range of emotions. We are going thru the stages of grief. The roller coaster ride of this ordeal is soon coming to a close. I am looking forward to some long deserved slower rides. I wouldn’t mind going on a kiddy ride or two. I am planning on enjoying the slow pace for as long as possible. I am a realist and I know that before too long …I will be on a speeding roller coaster, holding on for dear life and wondering if I will make it to the end.
One thing I have learned over the years is that the rides will keep on coming and we need to get on and as much as possible…we need to enjoy the ride. We need to appreciate our strength and courage to hang in there and endure what ever comes our way. I also have learned to let go…coz most of the time it’s too heavy. 🙂 I will continue to remind my self of all the skills I have learned over the years. I want to keep a positive attitude and help others along the way.
I agree with you that I don’t have all the answers either. Which means…I am still capable of growing and learning. With eyes wide open…I am going to keep going on the rides of my life and be glad that I am alive to experience what ever comes my way. The Lord will help me if I get lost or in trouble. I am confident in that for sure. Grace, forgiveness and hope…they are coming on the rides with me.