Rollercoasters or Train Tracks?
Word from Wiese
25 October 2023
A rollercoaster. Years ago, I thought of life like a rollercoaster. I strived for the joyful peaks at the top of what life’s ride might offer that week. Sure, there were lows and troughs fairly regularly. But they were to be escaped in order to race on to the next pinnacle.
But these days I’m compelled by a different metaphor: a train track. What if there are two tracks we ride upon every day, just as trains need to roll on two parallel rails? What if, every day we are open to BOTH the joys and sorrows of life? One track for each.
Jesus was amazing that he embraced this balance so well. On one hand, he reached out daily to those challenged with sickness, shame or disconnection. Yet, he figured out how also to keep enjoying hugging children, fishing with friends, and attending wedding and dinner parties. Jesus demonstrates how meaningful life means open hearts to both tears and smiles.
With the ongoing horror faced by thousands of innocent Israelis, Gazans and others in the Holy Land, let me thank you, Christ Our Shepherd, for doing wonderful job of praying, learning, lamenting, and even giving financial help in light of this extremely gut-wrenching situation. You did not ignore it or put your head in the sand, totally understandable impulses. Well done.
Simultaneously, you were willing to celebrate life at Saturday’s Oktoberfest. What joy we experienced with laughing kids spinning on the merry round or riding horses, creative artisans, impressive singers, delicious bratwurst, tasty youth-made desserts, tall and bouncy slides, smiling dancers, hopeful fishing of the new dock, and so much more!
Sometimes, I feel guilty for enjoying the rich blessings God offers me when I know the depth of ongoing despair of thousands of other humans. How about you? But I want to follow Jesus. So let’s follow Jesus’ commitment to the daily chance to both commiserate and celebrate with others. That’s authentic life. Not always easy! Not without tension! But authentic and faithful.
Finally, might this two-track metaphor work for our prayer life for the Holy Land as well? Israeli and Palestinian children both whose lives have been upended. Innocents on both sides of “the tracks” who do not harbor hate but just want to live in peace but are now victims. A prayer life that prays for ALL those involved seems congruent with Jesus’ words, “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” We’re all in this together.
These are hard days. But with Christ, they are good days too. Thanks for bringing Christ’s light to it all.
Rolling with you,
Pastor Fritz
Let us pray:
Dear Lord, help us embrace life the way Jesus did. Make our hearts break for the situations that broke Jesus’ heart. Yet, let us take moments to savor the goodness and joy of life in the way Jesus embraced it. Send your Holy Spirit that you help oversee the swirl of emotions in our hearts these days. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
