Roller Coaster First Days

This summer, our family enjoyed several days at a huge amusement park.  The park is home to several giant roller coasters – including a strap you in and drop you several stories type.  However, our family steered clear of those and stayed on the slightly milder side because, in truth, I am not much of a roller coaster rider.  At least not great big ones.  And especially not ones with loops and straight down drops. I prefer the kind you can see a little ahead of you – especially if it’s one you’ve ridden several times and know just how it goes!

This week I’ve ridden a different kind of roller coaster in my new job. Twists, turns, drops and climbs. Like any great roller coaster, I’m walking away from this ride – this first week – with a smile – and with the vision of the first weeks in a season as amplified versions of life’s roller coaster. 

Twists are conversation that leave your mouth agape and your mind spinning.

Turns are unexpected ideas that don’t match our plans or paths.

Drops are rejections and let downs that give us pause and at their darkest make us question our paths.

Climbs are new relational connections and stretching our minds with new learning.

This week, I’ve experienced each one of these roller coaster elements.  Conversations and ideas caused twists and turns. A rejection letter about a writing piece I’d submitted for publication dropped my spirit. But kind words and budding relationships and new learning made my heart climb. 

Friends, I feel confident that many of us are standing in line for a roller coaster of some kind right now.  How will we come out smiling?  I think there are a few things we can do to intentionally choose to throw our hands up and enjoy the ride.  

Look for friendly faces. 

This has been one of the most fun things about my new job.  I already have connections with so many people!  Listen as people talk.  You never know when you’ll have grown up in the same small town or have the same age child or attended the same college or both love the same book.  Then, intentionally connect with that person.  Be brave!  Chances are, they are looking for friendly faces, too. 

Find ways to laugh. 

Almost every day in the last week, I’ve laughed until I cried – cackling over a dog video with my growing too fast boy on Sunday, giggling until we cried over our misunderstanding of part of one of our training sessions with a friend, chuckling over funky ideas with teammates.  When we are on a roller coaster, our first instinct may be to scream! But, laughing is so much more fun!    

Say words out loud. 

In light of some hard things this week, the kind words of friends meant more than I can describe.  If a kind word crosses your mind, don’t assume the other person knows already, say it.  Your words can buoy their heart in ways you may never know.     

But, most important of all, trust this truth.

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.  God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Matthew 6:24 (MSG)

Friends, I hope the roller coaster of the summers-ending-schools-beginning season is full of joy and peace for you. 

Hugs and blessings, Bethany