The Ride of Your Life

Do you ride roller coasters much? If so, what are the two things you remember about all the rides you've ridden?

Well, if you're like me (which could be a ride all by itself), the first thing I think of is the gut-wrenching anticipation that I get as I strap myself into the seat of a roller coaster that I've never ridden before and begin the roll-out or ascent to the first drop. I'm especially anxious if the ride happens to be named something like "The Terrifying Black Dragon of Doom and Fire," or if it advertises itself to be "the fastest, most terrifying ride in the known universe." I mean, what if I suddenly enter the inverted spiral that tortures my body with a force of -9 G's and my insides decide that they've had enough of this and they're going to implode? These are the kinds of things that go through my mind as I anticipate squandering my healthy young adulthood on an outrageously priced thrill ride.

The second thing I remember about my roller coaster experiences is the following thought:

WWAAAAAAAAAAHHHHOOOOOOHOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Strange as it may sound, that thought is probably my favorite part of the entire experience. You see, I live for the thrill of the moment, for the unbidden cry of intense emotion that rushes past my lips, for the extraordinary sensation of my heart leaping into my throat in an attempt to escape the rush of adrenaline that sweeps through the core of my very being. I live from one high to the next, anxiously awaiting the next sudden drop, the next inverted corkscrew, the next unanticipated acceleration.

That sounds like a fantastic way to live, doesn't it? It guarantees a surfeit of exciting moments, for as we seek this intensity, so we shall find it. We shall be granted the desires of our hearts, for life is far from monotonous and adventure is always imminent.

Unfortunately, we never pause to remember the negatives inherent in this way of thinking. All too often, we transfer our desire for endless thrills to our spiritual lives. We expect the gratification of an unceasing "mountain-top" experience with God, and when it does not occur, we become bored. We give up on our daily walks with God because they are simply walks. We lose sight of the realization that our spiritual lives were not designed for relentless, exhilarating adventure but were instead fitted for the steadiness and continuity of a walk -- a walk with ups and downs and twists and turns, but a walk nonetheless.

One of the most fitting verses in the Bible says, "They that wait upon the Lord. . . ." Am I willing to wait on God, or do I insist on desiring only the thrills that life brings me? May God save us from bowing before this roller coaster idol - the idol of thrills.

Good gracious, it has been a long time since I posted on here. I don't know quite what to say, except...I missed me? Well, I guess I'll just have to catch you all up on the current news.

For those of you who weren't aware of it, I am back in West Virginia this year. (Wait, does the post below this one mention that?) Anyway, I'm traveling as an Admissions Representative for the college that I graduated from (Appalachian Bible College - or ABC for you younger folks). Basically, I sit at my desk and make a bunch of phone calls to people all around America. Then, because talking on the phone isn't quite as fun as talking in person, I drive to wherever those people are and talk to them again in a public setting. It's a lot of fun for a few reasons - first, I get to meet people, and people are my passion. Second, I get to travel around the country with all of my expenses taken care of. Third, I have the privilege to tell people about a ministry that God has used in my life, a ministry that I firmly believe in.

Let me condense a typical day for you.
6:30 AM - Wake up; get showered and dressed; check my directions and hop in the van for a drive.
7:45 AM - Arrive at destination (assuming it's a teacher's convention or something of the like); set up display and literature.
8:00 AM - Talk to people (I love this part)
9:00 AM - Talk to more people.
10:00 AM - Talk to more people.
11:00 AM - You get the point.
When my day is through, I usually end up driving for a while to the town where the next morning's meeting will be held. There I'll spend the night either in a hotel or with friends. And that is 12 hours squeezed into about two paragraphs. Not quite that simple when you live it out, but oh well...

Oh, hey, guess what. No, I said guess. Of course I'm not just going to tell you.

Okay, fine, here goes...I'll be honest, I can't think of a thing to type. Sorry, my brain is fried. I just spent the day planning my trip to the great western state of Colorado. It's killer I know, but someone has to do it. Just like someone had to sacrifice to spend time at conventions in Myrtle Beach and Orlando. Serving the Lord is funny like that - you think it's gonna be all hard work and no play, but sometimes, the Lord gives you a time and a place to relax and meditate on Him and His Word - and there's nothing like the beach to do that, especially at sunset.

Anyway, that's my blurt for the evening. Nothing formal or organized, just whatever random thoughts I could muster.

More later,

ngolden