I was talking to someone here in Bahrain the other day and I mentioned that it has been “quite the roller coaster ride” we have been on. That got me thinking about roller coasters and carnival rides in general. There are two ways you can ride a roller coaster. One way is to buckle in, smile, put your hands up in the air on the drops, screaming in exhilaration on the rolls, completely trusting in the designer and operator of the ride. The second way is to buckle in and while doing so, think about all the ways the thing was put together and all the ways it can fall apart, not trusting in the engineer or operator, screaming in fear, completely stressed throughout the whole ride. When you get off you thought it took forever and you vow never to get back on. When I was 16, I went to Missouri with Cody and his family and there was a country carnival. For those of you that do not know what that is, it is a traveling assortment of amusement park rides, game booths, food booths, etc, that get set up for a few weeks in different towns. We had a good time until we were getting on one of the rides and the operator reeked of alcohol. This ride was completely different for me because I was aware that the operator was intoxicated and I questioned his ability to operate the ride the entire time. It didn’t help that he allowed the ride we were on to hit the tree branches nearby. There were leaves and branches flying around us and the ride seemed to last forever! I didn’t go on any more rides after that one. So, as I was thinking about this ‘ride’ we are on in our lives right now, I was wondering, “which way am I riding?” Am I free and enjoying this time with complete trust in the Engineer and Operator, or am I doubting His abilities to care for us while we ride? Am I going to get off vowing never to get on again or am I trusting my Engineer to design the best life for me with rolls, drops, twists, and loops, all taking me closer to Him, building my trust even further in Him? Do I ride with anxiety and worry, thinking of the worst possible scenarios? I really had to ponder this. I think for the most part I am trusting the Engineer and Operator, but there are times when doubt creeps in and I am anxious once more. He never said it would be easy, He only promises we’d never be alone. I am so thankful that He is here with me – the Author and Perfector of my faith.