Life is a Roller Coaster

Yesterday, I spent the day at the amusement park with my son. The parks are just beginning to open and this was a sort of warm-up as they get ready for the season. We went with my sister’s family, so the day was pretty much filled with fun and good friends. I’ve always liked to ride the coasters and there were a bunch of other riders in our group, so we got a lot of rides in during the day. By the time we’d left, we’d hit most of the coasters in the park and had done some of them a few times.

I’ve been accused of trying to control too much of my life. In a way this is true, but it’s not a need for control so much as a desire to be prepared and do my best (I was a Boy Scout and some things are just hard to un-learn). I like to have a handle on the situation, but am also perfectly comfortable rolling with the punches and reacting to what comes. There are people that despair over every misfortune or surprise that life gives them; they seem incapable of being happy or content and are unable to see the beauty that surrounds and fills them. I guess I can’t really judge because life has thrown me a never ending series of sweet fast balls right over the plate, but I feel that these people are needlessly causing themselves pain and I wish there was some way I could tell them that it all really doesn’t matter.

Coaster as a metaphor…There was a great speech in the movie “Parenthood” about life and roller coasters. The old woman who gave the speech talked about how some people enjoyed the ride, how they looked forward to each new thrill and twist; but others were apprehensive, the ride made them nervous and sick inside. I am one of those who love the ride; I look forward to every new bend and drop. I never have taken this life too seriously and I take it much less so now that I have found some spirituality. We’re not here long, no longer really than a roller coaster ride. When it’s over, we’ll look back and say, “I lost my stomach a time or two on that one…great ride…pretty short though.” In the end, the ride will be little more then a sweet memory.

I’m thankful to have good and true friends with me on this ride and I want you all to know I wouldn’t trade any of you for the world. I’ll try to let go a little more and be more spontaneous. I’ll always try to be a good and true friend to you and see that you’re enjoying this ride as much as I am. When we leave this amusement park, I will always treasure the memories that you’ve given me.