Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1)

Growing up I was very much the roller coaster enthusiast. The family vacations I remember the most are the ones where we loaded up and took off to either Busch Gardens or Kings Dominion. My brother and I would usually get out the brochures of where we were going the night before and make each other promise which roller coasters we were going to ride so that no one could chicken out once we got there and actually saw them in person. We could hardly sleep the night before because we were so excited (and nervous) about the rides we would be going on. And then when we arrived we would be all over ourselves to get out of the car and let the fun begin.

I can still remember the first roller coaster I ever rode was the Loch Ness Monster at Busch Gardens. Some of my cousins were actually with us on that trip and I had promised to ride it so there was no way I could back out in front of everyone. And so, we all stood in line and finally it was our turn to strap in. When it started off, we were going very slow, as most roller coasters do, as we made the first steep climb and I thought wow this is not so bad. Then the next thing I know we were going straight down toward water and then it flew into this big loop and then some twists, and frankly, I don't remember exactly what all it did, but let's just say my short, little life flew by my eyes as I hung on for dear life. When the ride stopped and I finally had time to collect my thoughts, I was thinking "what in the world just happened" and "are all my body parts still attached". It was traumatizing because it was something that I had never experienced before and no matter what people told me about it, their words just couldn't prepare me. But once my heart stopped racing and I stood up and remembered how to walk again, I thought "that was awesome" and was ready to get in line for the next ride. And the more I rode, the more I learned how to deal with all the fear and excitement that I was feeling.

And so, sometimes life can be that way too. Just like that roller coaster started off slowly and everything seemed ok, having never experienced it before, there was no way I could have truly been prepared for all the twists and turns ahead. Sometimes in life we are at the top of the mountain, but sometimes we must go through the valleys as well. And while those trials may seem more than we can bear, we must be patient and trust God and know that in the end we are going to come out of each trial better for having gone through it. As Christians, we must keep our eyes on the reward that lies ahead and not let the things of this world distract us from our final destination.

Jennifer Kopanski