The Rollercoaster
Her heart began beating more rapidly in anticipation of the ride about to begin. Safety belts were in place. The lap bar was locked, checked, and double checked. The workers voices could be heard as she felt the first jerk of movement as the cars left the loading station. The clicks of gears catching; moving the cars send tingles of expectancy through her spine.
After a small downward dip the cars roll up a grade before they plunge down, up, to the side, leaning right, left; gaining speed as first they loop and then loop again to the sound of screams and laughter. Catching the gear, they climb again, gaining height before they plummet down, up, and around the final loops as they slowly enter the loading area. Lap bars release, buckles are undone and a helping hand is offered as she struggles to stand and stumbles out of the car. Her husband reaches for her, offering a steady arm and they wander from the ride back into the sunshine of a beautiful fall day. The exhilaration of the ride glowed on her face as they laughed and strolled off, into their day.
Another day they were at a park that had a different kind of ride. As they climbed into the car, strapped into the safety equipment and the ride begins. The ride spins and rotates like a Ferris wheel only to change direction and spin the other way. Eventually the arms holding the cars change angles and the entire ride tilts as they spin--forward, back, up, down, and every direction; faster and faster until she was totally disoriented. As the ride finally spun to a close, she just sat--too ill to move.
Finally, ever so slowly helpful hands helped to lift her from the car and led her from the car to a bench outside the loading area. She sat, put her head between her knees, and panted. Hands brought a damp cloth for her head and a glass of water to help calm her stomach. Sitting quietly she eventually recovered from the nausea, and though still unsteady on her feet she carefully walked among the crowd. As she moved, the spinning in her head was still almost overwhelming and she sought a quiet place to rest; tears of frustration and embarrassment slid down her cheeks.
Life is often like these rollercoaster rides. Some days are exciting, exhilarating, filled with laughter and love. Other days are confusing, overwhelming, nauseating, and frustrating. Emotions run the gamut of highs, lows, controlled, and uncontrollable. Memories can be celebrated or bring tears of loss and deep grief. It has been suggested that life is better when there are no highs and lows. It should, instead, be level.
As we travel through the season of Lent, re-examine the life of Jesus Christ, his teachings, his sacrifice, his love; perhaps we can see a realistic pattern. As I see the life of Christ I see deep love for family, for those who hurt, the ill, and those who suffer loss. There is great compassion, the tasks of everyday, meals with friends, celebrations, temptations, betrayal, misunderstandings, jostling for position, deep despair, sacrifice, and many other nuances of emotion bound by consistent, unfathomable love.
The life of Christ was not a smooth, placid experience. Instead there were great highs and lows sharing the more placid every day tasks of life. Some days in life bring tears; some bring joys. Moment by moment we face life and whatever it brings. Some things we can control--many we cannot.
When I cry and grieve for a loss in my life, I know it will pass. When my sides hurt from a case of the giggles, I know this will also pass. There are great highs, lows, loops, hurdles, shared experiences, and support from those who walk with us through life. There is variety in life--mine, and yours. God, walk with us as we ride this rollercoaster called life. Thank you for the helping hands that lead us; comfort us. Help us to be willing to reach out both to accept from and to give to others. So be it. Amen.
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