Crazy Ride
"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Rom 5:3-5 3 NIV)
I can remember once when I was a boy our family went to an
amusement park while visiting my Grandma in Tennessee. My older brothers were
riding all of the big rides and I really wanted to get on one as well. Finally
my Mom agreed to get on a mini roller coaster with me. The ride operator started
the ride out slow but soon we were going faster and faster while my Mom’s face
got whiter and whiter and she held my hand tighter and tighter. Finally the ride
started to slow down and we thought it was just about over. Suddenly, however,
we heard the operator’s voice yell out, "Do you want to go backwards?" Sixty
teenagers screamed out "YES!" And a half a second later I heard my Mom scream
out "NO!!" As loud as all of them put together.
I can sympathize with how my Mom felt. A lot of times in this life I have wanted
to stop this crazy ride and just get off. The roller coaster has just kept
moving along, though, with twists and turns that made my heart flutter and my
face turn white. I used to think that if I could just get everything right in my
life then this ride would smooth out and I would be happy. Yet, everyday new
problems, troubles, and frustrations would appear. There was no getting ahead of
them, no getting around them, and no off switch on the ride.
I finally realized one day that this crazy, roller coaster ride was my life.
There wasn’t going to be any slowing down or smoothing out in the future. In
fact, there was every chance that I would end up going backwards as well. The
best that I could do then was to choose love, joy, and oneness with God while I
rode it. The best that I could do was to laugh and enjoy the trip instead of
screaming my head off. The best that I could do was to smile, take the
frightened hands of those riding with me, and trust in God to see us through
every twist and turn this ride might take. Life sure is one crazy ride. May all
of you enjoy every minute of it.
By: Joseph J. Mazzella