It's funny how we often try to minimalize the Christian life as mountaintop and valley experiences. I know, I’ve heard the analogy and studied Matthew 17. I’ve even used that description myself. It’s an easy explanation. That’s what we like isn’t it? Easy explanations? I know I do. I’ve been guilty of using this analogy myself. But it seems a little too easy doesn’t it? This mountaintop/valley perspective on the Christian life comes off a bit one-dimensional when I look in on my own life.Mike Yaconelli used to say that the roller coaster is a much more accurate model of the Christian life: “You say yes to Jesus, and suddenly you are strapped in and you think, I’m going to die! Then you begin the long climb of growth—Sunday school, baptism, church membership—and you think, Hey, no problem. I can follow Jesus anywhere, and then—ZOOOOOOOOM—you crash into the twists and turns of life, jerking left then right, up then down, and fifty, sixty years go by and—WHAM!—you’re dead.”
The reality of that model strikes me to the core! In all honesty, half the time I don’t know which way is up and which way is down. Recently, it’s been brought to my attention that many of my good friends who have begun their college chapter of life are struggling. They are struggling with school, future decisions, being away from families who miss their presence, broken relationships which have never been reconciled, deeply connecting with others… I’m suddenly reminded that, while exciting, new, and liberating, this phase of life can also be confusing and scary as hell!
Too often, we can find ourselves riding this roller coaster with others who seem to be having a good time—their hands are in the air, they’re screaming with the rest of the passengers as life goes careening left and right—but the reality is, they’re lonely and scared to death, believing they’re riding all by themselves. I’m not so sure that the rest of life is any different. I do know that on this disorienting ride called life, God’s grace meets us at every twist and every turn. I also know that we don’t need to ride alone. When we expose our fears, confess our brokenness and pray for each other, God heals and He makes us whole. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.
