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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD
Encountering an extraordinary God in ordinary life
Issue # 159 June 05, 2001
The Toboggan Ride
As children, we used to spend a lot of time in the winter tobogganing.
Not far from our home was a huge hill. At least it seemed huge in those days, although I suspect that for an adult it isn’t quite as big. The hill was wide enough that dozens of sleds and toboggans would be going up or down at the same time.
We’d drag the toboggan up the hill, pile as many people on it as we could and go racing down to the bottom. Inevitably a few people would fall off along the way, but if we didn’t tip it over on the way down, some of us would have a great ride.
We didn’t always use a toboggan. Sometimes, we’d ride down on an a big inner tube. Other times it would be a sled, or an old cardboard box. For a few years we even used Crazy Carpets, those blue pieces of plastic with handles cut in them, that were only meant for one rider.
If you didn’t have anything else to use, and the snow was just right, you could lie down and slide on your coat.
The rides were usually a lot of fun. Sometimes you could end up with a few bumps bruises and scrapes, but seldom did anyone get seriously injured.
Once you got to the bottom, the work started. It was time to drag the toboggan back up the hill. If I let go of the rope, or slipped, the toboggan would get away and head for the bottom by itself. Then I would have to start over again, without having the fun of the ride.
Coming up the hill, we had to be vigilant for people coming down. There wasn’t a lot of control by the drivers and if we weren’t careful, a collision was sure to happen.
It always took far longer to get prepared for a ride than the ride itself took. There was no way around it though, if you wanted to ride you had to go up the hill.
It was always easy to get volunteers to come along for the ride, but when it came to the hard stuff, dragging it back up the hill, the owner of the sled usually had to pull it themselves.
Sometimes it can be like that in our personal lives. It’s easy to find people to come along for the fun parts, but many disappear when it’s time to do the work. I’m sure I have been just as guilty of it as anyone else at times.
One partner never leaves though. If we let Him, God is always there to grab a hold of the toboggan and pull it up the hill with us. Often, when we get to the top, we realize that He has done all the pulling and we just walked along side of Him dragging the rope.
Even if we jump on the toboggan and race away in life without Him, selfishly enjoying the ride, He waits for us at the bottom of the hill to help us back up.
When the burden gets too much, He’ll be there
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
Where are you in your life? Are you and God enjoying the ride? Is He helping you up the hill? Or are you racing downhill alone and struggling back up from the bottom on your own?
Until next time, on the ups and downs of your life, may God accompany you.
God bless.
Kevin
If you don’t know Jesus and are struggling, pulling the toboggan up the hill by yourself, or sitting at the bottom, wondering what to do next, please email me. I’ll share a few Bible verses that will show why you need Jesus, and a prayer that will make the relationship possible.
© 2001 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin
All Rights Reserved