Riding for Fun

The other night I was at dinner with some friends and one of the people in the group started talking about the changes happening in his life. He continued on with the changes in the economy and the changes in today’s society. As usual, as he was talking, my mind began to wander and it landed on the vacation our family took to California. How this vacation and my friend’s rant tie together, I did not know at that time, but it works, so bear with me.

My family went to California for a vacation and it was a dream vacation. We stayed in a condo right on the beach. One day was for San Diego, another for Orange County. We had beautiful weather, beautiful view and the whole family having fun. As I was visiting this in my mind, I came back to realize that the rant was still happening—quick back to the vacation.

What I realized is that my friend was talking to me about basic change and what we go through all the time without realizing it. Of course, being a person with ADD my thoughts went to my vacation and waiting in line for a roller coaster ride.

Man…I do not like roller coasters! I am sure most of you are brave and will not admit that you do not like them either. I have even thought about a 12 step course to get over my fear, but only made it to step 1.

While I was waiting the 45 minutes for the ride with my youngest son, I thought about all the reasons why I don’t like these types of rides. First, there are the screams. You can hear these screams all over the park. These are not just kids screaming, but grown mature adults. These are not normal screams. Many people say they are screams of joy, yet they sound like screams of fear.

Then after listening to the screams, you have to get into the car for the ride. You are committed to the ride by sitting down, and lowering the bar. YOU HAVE TO GO ON THE RIDE.

This is just like your life I realized. When you give your word to someone that you will do the “right” thing, or when your friends dare you to jump off the high dive. It was at this point of the ride when my 6 year old son says to me with wide eyes, “I WANT TO GET OFF NOW!!!” This happens while my other son is riding by himself waiting for the time of his life.

Well after that bar goes down, the people running the ride tell you the rules. “Keep hands and feet inside the car at all times. Do not release the bar; do not do this or that, etc.” Man, I am thinking this might not be a good idea for me. Then the brakes release and you move slowly to the “hill”.

Who ever invented roller coasters had a demented mind. Why would anyone use a chain to pull a bunch of scared people up a hill? The kerchunking sound is not very pleasant to hear. Along with the hill being straight up can make anyone nervous and doubt their decision.

Of course, you do the dumb thing; you look over the side and see how high up you really are going. What a mistake!! You know, you can’t see what is over the hill, is it straight down, does it take a nasty turn or just moves along smoothly. What is it, I need to know?

Well, this ride went straight down. Now, I am the one screaming at the top of my lungs. The changes in the ride were horrendous. One turn here, a quick drop there, another curve at breakneck speed and you were always climbing another hill to gain speed, yet I never knew what was on the other side. There were too many choices to send the body, mind and stomach. Where was the ride going to take me?

The ride seemed really short, either it actually was fun or I passed out. One of the two. When it was over, I did not say a thing, but my six year old was telling me as we got out of the car, “Let’s do it again!!!”

Man…I don’t like change and why was my friend evangelizing about the changes in our life. As he spoke, my stomach turned, my head hurt and where was my changes going to take me? And what was with all that screaming I heard in my head. It was the roller coaster my life is on. When we make decisions in our life, we don’t know what is on the other side. Where is it going to take us? Where will I go in my life? What will I see, and how will I feel?

I am at “half time” of my life and the question always is where do I go from here? Will it be a big drop, another hill, a smooth ride or a gut wrenching turn? What ever it is, I am going to make sure it is a ride with excitement.

As I listened to my friend, I knew we are all on this ride together and we are at the point of getting into the car. All of us have to make decisions. One do we all go on this ride together, or just a few people to on this type of adventure. You have to decide if you are ready for that bar to come down and lock you in, or will be watching people on the ride having the time of their life and you just wishing to be there.

Another thought is how do you ride this thing called life? Some people pass out, some scream, some get sick. Some hand onto the bar and have their eyes water, like my six year old son. Others do something by pure faith; they raise their hands, letting the ride take them wherever it decides to go. By the way, those are the ones screaming and having fun.

I am not asking for you to hop on a roller coaster, but to relax and understand that life is a ride. More specifically, it is your ride. Live life to the fullest and make of it what you want to make of it. I am asking that you make the decision to get on the ride at least and don’t stand on the side. You know how you want to act on this ride called life.

By the way, it was one of the best times of my life on that ride, and yes, WE did it again, no handed.