I can remember once when I was a boy our family went to an amusement park while visiting my Grandma in Tennessee. My older brothers were riding all of the big rides and I really wanted to get on one as well. Finally my Mom agreed to get on a mini roller coaster with me. The ride operator started the ride out slow but soon we were going faster and faster while my Mom’s face got whiter and whiter and she held my hand tighter and tighter. Finally the ride started to slow down and we thought it was just about over. Suddenly, however, we heard the operator’s voice yell out, “Do you want to go backwards?” Sixty teenagers screamed out “YES!” And a half a second later I heard my Mom scream out “NO!!” As loud as all of them put together.

I can sympathize with how my Mom felt. A lot of times in this life I have wanted to stop this crazy ride and just get off. The roller coaster has just kept moving along, though, with twists and turns that made my heart flutter and my face turn white. I used to think that if I could just get everything right in my life then this ride would smooth out and I would be happy. Yet, everyday new problems, troubles, and frustrations would appear. There was no getting ahead of them, no getting around them, and no off switch on the ride.

I finally realized one day that this crazy, roller coaster ride was my life. There wasn’t going to be any slowing down or smoothing out in the future. In fact, there was every chance that I would end up going backwards as well. The best that I could do then was to choose love, joy, and oneness with God while I rode it. The best that I could do was to laugh and enjoy the trip instead of screaming my head off. The best that I could do was to smile, take the frightened hands of those riding with me, and trust in God to see us through every twist and turn this ride might take. Life sure is one crazy ride. May all of you enjoy every minute of it.

Joseph J. Mazzella joecool@wirefire.com