Carousel Ride

Close your eyes. Can you remember running toward it your first time? The sound, the lights, the music, the colored horses, and the carriage-type seating are all ornate. The menagerie made them inviting these whimsical rides swirling around and round, enticing you to come aboard.

Joyful anticipation swells in your heart as you are near the destination and awaits the signal to step onto the platform. At last, it’s your turn as you leap at the chance to take your place on the beautiful carousel ride.

Can you recall the first ride as your curiosity overtook your brain, and you were hungry for every minute of what the experience would bring? You enter a new world of wonder and beauty and whisk away to a place you have never been. Every moment had newness and wonder with attainable excitement attached as you whirled around the carousel ride.

Once upon the platform, you decide where to sit for this novice experience — somehow thinking it had to be perfect, and your placement meant everything. Choices for the best seat overwhelm at first. There is urgency as you notice the slight movement under your feet; you hurry to make this most crucial decision of where to set yourself for the ride of a lifetime.

Does it matter where you are on the ride? Is your place the critical factor, or is it to surrender to what is yet to come? Many things attract us, and we set many things in place before we even experience them; the ride is constantly changing. However, the carousel stays the same throughout time. Sit back and enjoy your journey. The conductor has pulled the lever, and then one spins into a magical memory.

Now imagine this ride is never-ending. You grow as you have begun this adventure as a small child and now see yourself experiencing the different stages of life on this fantastic ride. You find out that everything is available for you to meet your needs. When hungry, food appears. When thirsty, you find water; when tired, you find rest. So this ride is welcoming, and there is no reason or need to get off. Right?

Imagine this ride as an example of your life in your temporary home. Can you, for a moment, recall the emotion of that first call of the Holy Spirit? You can do it. He whispered your name and asked you to board the ride of belief in Him and into a long-term relationship with your Heavenly Father.

Do you remember the joy and the immense hunger and curiosity? The excitement and peace that overtook you at that precise moment when you knew it was forever? Can you call upon the feeling in your heart as you approached His whimsical ride and begged to jump on with Him?

This ride is long and tedious as you experience it; you have and will get the knowledge of His plans for you. He loves you unconditionally, yet we disappoint Him when we do not follow suit. The more you attend to His message, the more clarity in the voice of His Spirit.

He is so loving and forgiving that He trusts you will again find the immense joy you had the first time He called out to you and asked you to come aboard. He knows you will seek the knowledge of the word, allowing Him to reveal much to you. He has chosen you for this time, guiding you with this leap of faith, as He is constant. He is eagerly waiting with outstretched arms as you come to Him. All one needs to do is jump aboard and experience surrender to a ride guide.

He wants very little while He is your provision. He asks that you love and honor Him. Praise and worship all that He is and that you do the same for all His creation. He asks that you do this with a joyful heart, patience, perseverance, forgiveness, and humble acknowledgment of Him.

He will use your imperfections, for He has allowed them. He will use your trials to strengthen you and may use them in the influence of others to bring them toward Him. He will be ever-present and supportive, uplifting, and compassionate. He will place you in a soft, comfortable resting place when you become weary. This place will be complete and safe as you will be in His loving and capable arms.

He will be your only need, your protector, and will never cast you away. You may try to leap and lose your footing as the ride gets faster and faster, but He will steady you.

Try to remember the first day of your ride. Try to throw human imperfection to the wind and allow the feeling of His Spirit to flow through you like the swift breeze of that first ride on the carousel. Always remember that He loves you no matter what, even if you’re not on board in your life; ask Him to allow you to join Him. If you are slipping, no worries. He already knows and Sends you messages of guidance, so be open to His comfort and plan.

Are you saddened by the world outside your window today? Are you afraid? He says, “Fear not, for I am with you.” Have you slipped? Well, that’s okay? Peter denied Him three times, yet He built His Church upon the rock that was Peter. (Matthew 16:18) Christ is your living stone, and He will never fail you.

For anyone who believes and lives in Him shall never die. (John 11:25-26, John 5:24) For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

(John 14:6) Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.”

So, how are you today? How is your carousel ride going? If you have never taken a trip, how about making a jump? All you need to do is talk to Him and ask if you can join Him. If you are experiencing heavy burdens, go to Him, for He will give you rest. If you are laughing, share your happiness, for He allows your breath to do so.

Never keep to yourself the beauty of the ride with Christ. It’s a ride to be shared and experienced. There is no need to change before leaping. Just as at the park, this ride is open to everyone, just the way they are. Just take the leap of faith and climb aboard the waiting white horse.

" I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and He was given a crown, and He rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest." Revelation6:2 NIV

I hope to see you on HIS CAROUSEL RIDE.