November 24

Written by Bill Grandi on November 24th, 2021

I used to love a good roller coaster. The feel of the air as it rushed past my face. The almost weightless feeling of topping the track and then dropping off at ungodly speeds was thrilling.

Two realities wrecked that for me, neither of which I could control. First, getting older. What my body once relished, it now rebelled. My joints would hurt from being jostled and my head complained because of the equilibrium being off. But worse was #2.

It was always an issue. Circles. I hate circles. Put me in or on anything which goes in circles and it is not a pretty sight. Like lose my lunch sight. I turn white. I sweat profusely. And BAM! So I stopped riding coasters. No…make that I stopped going to the amusement park. I even get sick on a Merry-go-round! Now…who gets sick on one of those? (hand raised). Anyway, the food was too expensive. And the people-the real reason I like to go to the park-got stranger and stranger.  95 degrees out and wearing long, baggy, black pants 10 sizes too big. Chains. Long sleeve black shirt. Piercings out the yazoo. Did I say weird?

Anyway, focus Bill. I used to love the thrill of the coaster. Start slow. Hit the high. Come in for the landing.

Psalm 19 reminds me of that:

Start slow. Verse 1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God…”

Hit the apex. Verses 7-10. Four of the most powerful and greatest verses in all of Scripture.

Come in for the landing. Verse 14 says, “May the word of my mouth…”

Take the time to read the whole chapter on your own please. Then read it again and again. See the start. Feel the apex. Stick the landing.

And you won’t get sick. I promise. And I will take that ride any day.

“Father, thank you for Your Word and the vivid reality of it. Help me to relish the thrill of Psalm 19.”

Note: All Scripture is from the NASB2020.

 

6 Comments so far ↓

  1. Glynn Young says:

    For me, it’s #1. I love roller coasters. But my joints no longer cooperate. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, Bill!

  2. Ryan S says:

    I still like a good roller coaster, but tend to avoid the wooden ones that beat me around. I like spinning also. Though nothing quite like jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. All will pale in comparison when the time comes to meet my Father in Heaven. What a ride that will be… and unlike 60 seconds of thrills after a two hour wait in line… I’ll get to spend eternity after only a short life time of waiting in line on this earth.

    • Bill Grandi says:

      I remember you jumping out of that perfectly good airplane. 🙂 Great analogy about waiting in line vs spending eternity in heaven.

  3. Ed says:

    I remember riding a roller coaster once when I was young. Specifically banging my head on the metal/steel bar on the back of the seat that would be wise to always cover in a heavy cushioned pad. It totally turned me off the coaster rides.
    I guess now they do pad them, although it’s been years since I’ve even attended a fair.
    Psalms 19…well all of the book of Psalms just make me want to grow closer to the Lord

    • Bill Grandi says:

      I don’t remember those times Ed. But I do agree about Psalms wanting to help me grow closer to Jesus