One of my favorite places as a youngster was Kennywood Amusement Park near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I loved the roller coasters, especially The Racer. (It was my favorite to ride.) The Racer is a wooden racing roller coaster, one of the oldest operating roller coasters in the world, and the last remaining continuous-track racing roller coaster in the United States.
I love the old-fashioned coasters. I’m not into the upside-down corkscrew coasters that are in vogue today. I loved the feel of the wooden ones, a bit shaky, noisy, and as a child—so much fun!
I remember the coaster leaving the station and climbing up that first tall hill. It seemed like it kept getting slower and slower as it approached the top. All you could see was the sky as it climbed up and up and up. Then suddenly it took up speed and you were barreling down the hill, faster and faster. Then there was another climb and another descent!
Often moving with God can be a similar experience. We pray and wait, and it seems God is silent or ignoring us. (We, of course, cannot see what He is doing in the heavenly realms or in the lives of others to bring everything we have prayed for together.) Then suddenly it is a whirlwind of activity, and we see everything we have desired and prayed for coming to pass. It can take our breath away.
That is my walk with God right now. As the former pastor of The Way Middleton, I have prayed to reach the lost in our area. It seemed God was silent. Now suddenly, He is moving, and moving faster than I ever thought was possible. The Way Middleton is soon to be Christian Faith Center Middleton with the vision and resources to reach the lost in our area.
God always surprises me! That is a good thing. What a thrilling time to be walking with Him.
