Roller coasters.
Maybe its the adrenaline rush that we get stepping into this majestic ride, preparing ourselves for the unknown turns to come.
Or maybe its the excitement you feel as the roller coaster inches up ever so slowly to the highest point of the ride, and upon reaching the top you get to view the world from an entirely new perspective.
Still maybe, its the feeling you get after the ride. A feeling of accomplishment, exhilaration, and possibly slightly queasy.
Regardless of the reason people ride them, I think we can all agree that roller coasters are symbolic to life.
Whenever we begin a new phase in our life, whether its starting college, beginning a career, or getting married, its like the phase of the roller coaster when it click...click....click..inches up slowly to its peak before it reaches its tallest point.
We are nervous about the unknown future, but regardless there's an excitement that is distilled within us. We don't know whats yet to come, because we cant see over the top of the hill the roller coaster is climbing, but we are buckled down and ready to find out!
Yet no matter how many times we've ridden a roller coaster, rarely are we ready for all the big drops and turns that it will inevitably make. Every single time there is a combination of nervousness and excitement all mixed into one.
Depending on the roller coaster you're riding there are times when you feel safe and secure, as you notice the buckle or straps holding you down inside the ride. It's during these times you might gain the courage to raise your hands up and enjoy the ride.
While other roller coasters you may feel as if you are about to be jolted right out of your seat and thrown onto the ground below you.
Life is no different.
Maybe you are able to see what's ahead of you and have an idea of where you are going.
Or maybe you are on the uphill climb and have no idea what lies ahead of you, but are excited and nervous for whats yet to come.
This can be applied to life in general, marriage, friendships, and even our spiritual life/relationship with God.
Just like everything else in life there will always be ups and downs, highs and lows, and unexpected turns.
Those of us who have been Baptized, specifically those as infants, didn't know exactly what we were getting into. We were on the uphill climb of the roller coaster going with the flow.
That is until, off a sudden we were grown ups and out in the real world being called to live out what we believe in. Often times this comes as a shock, similar to the feeling we get on the downhill part of the roller coaster when we're trying to catch our breathes but cant.
Sometimes we feel very close to God and can see Him working in our lives, while other times we feel incredibly distant from Him and feel exposed to outside temptations.
The ups and downs of our relationship with God allow us to grow. The curves and loops of a roller coaster, while unexpected, are whats included in our ticket.
If we wanted a ride that was smooth sailing and boring we would simply ride a train.
But life (and our spiritual life) isn't a train, but a roller coaster.
Many people get confused and think that our relationship with God has to be this fun, fluffy, butterflies and rainbows experience 24/7.
And if you are going through a time when God seems distant and you don't think he's listening, hold on and wait. The ride is not over.
Our relationship with God can be exciting, eventful, and full of hopefulness and truth.
All you have to do to experience this is to not get off the ride.
