“‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed Him.” (Mark 1:17)
Recently I heard a sermon titled “An Amazing Ride.” When I saw the title, I wondered what it could be about.
I really don’t like roller-coaster rides. I’m scared of heights and even the speed, and those things that create a good buzz in others, leave me cold. I’ve never seen the fascination in speed and thrills, that others do. And now, it wouldn’t do my back any good anyway–so that’s a good excuse!
I was thinking what an amazing ride living with chronic illness can be. It has all the twists and turns that would often thrill others, but for us, they can be just one more thing to cope with, or another thing that we need to let go of from our past.
There are often surprises around the corner. Is that really an amazing ride? Maybe not amazingly good, but it is still amazing.
The sermon was about the disciples and the “amazing ride” they had in the time they walked with Jesus on earth, living with Him and witnessing the miracles, the teaching, and just the way He lived His life with them. Surely it changed their lives for ever.
The amazing ride that many of us are on–that journey of chronic illness– may not be one we would chose, but it is still one that we have so much to learn from.
Just as the disciples had no idea where Jesus would lead them when they decided to just follow Him, so we also don’t know what twists and turns there will be on our current journey. But as they did, we can choose to trust and follow wherever God may take us.
We may not now be able to call it an amazing ride, but I’m sure that when we look back from our place in Heaven, we will see it was and that we are better for the experience.
Prayer: Father, help me to trust you in the twists and turns of my life – when I don’t understand help me to follow where you are leading me. May it be an amazing ride! Amen.

Love, Frieda