Roller coasters have never

held any intrigue for me.

Of course I don't like crowds, and do not frequent carnival-like

settings where roller coasters are found. But lately, I am wondering if

there are other reasons I do not like roller coasters.

Could be my life is just too much of a roller coaster ride in and of itself.

Whew!

Don't you ever feel like saying "Whew!" at the end of some

days or weeks? And do you ever long to just get off the ride for a few

minutes and walk away to some quiet place? Alone.

I was so impressed, flabbergasted, absolutely awestruck the first time

I ever noticed all the references to Jesus Christ walking away from the

crowds to be alone for a spell. If He needed to do it, how much more do

you and I need our quiet times alone with God, to meditate and pray, and

just to be His child?

Roller coaster rides don't allow time for much meditation. And a

prayer on one may too often be limited to an occasional cry for help.

Now, I'm not saying we should not ride the roller coasters of our

lives. And if yours, like mine, sometimes appears to be one long roller

coaster ride with far too few stops along the way, don't doubt yourself,

or God's ability to see you through.

Just hang on and ride.

But when it does stop, make the most of what time you have to steal away

to some quiet place alone and just be.

Be what? Be still? Maybe.

Be yourself? Absolutely. God does not make junk, and he's still working

on, and in, you.

Be prayerful? For sure. However you may choose to commune or communicate

with the eternal Father is okay. He hears. But be sure to listen. Don't

just do all the talking.

Now, I know I sound like I'm telling you what to do. Not hardly.

I'm really talking to myself here. After all, it is I who stand in

need of a few moments off the roller coaster.

Remember the words to the song "I Surrender All?" It is a tried

and true hymn that should not be taken lightly. Many times I have stood

in church, or sang it alone and silently, and prayerfully claimed to mean

every word, only to shrink back from such a commitment within hours or

days.

Been there, huh? Surrender is hard, isn't it?

Surrendering one's self, one's talents, one's resources,

one's total sense of being, to anyone or any cause is hard. Even

when we opt to surrender to the will and best wishes of our heavenly Father,

it's still hard.

I'm not sure why it has to be that way. But we are His creation,

and I'm convinced He understands. Perhaps it's all part of the

growing process, which I am convinced continues throughout life and beyond

the grave.

Life as we know it on earth is just a small part of the big picture. A

small, but very important part. So if there must be roller coaster rides,

I need to learn to enjoy them more!

Nobody ever said life should not be enjoyable. On the contrary, it may

all be a matter of perspective.

I am reminded once more of the story about the king who hired two renowned

artists to paint a picture of peace. The painting that better illustrated

the concept would hang in his castle.

One artist painted an awesome scene of rolling hills and meadows, a scene

from nature that caused viewers to gasp and know with assurance that they

were gazing at the winner.

The other artist painted a powerful waterfall in the midst of a storm.

Peace? "Not hardly" was the opinion of most who viewed it.

The king, however, gazed long and hard before making his decision. The

people did not understand why it would take him so long to choose and

were shocked when he chose the storm.

So the wise old king had to point out for onlookers the little bird that

sat calmly on her nest of babies on a ledge behind the waterfall.

Storms? Gushing waterfalls? Roller coasters? Peace? Real peace. Absolutely,

and joy too. I've got peace. I think I'm going for joy now.