They See Me Roller Skating

Imagine a hundred plus kids recklessly skating around a rink—kids are falling, dancing, singing, going by at wicked speeds, or at a slow crawl around the outside. Every Tuesday, for eight weeks, the camp I worked at would take a field trip. The trips ranged from the NC Zoo to bowling to my favorite, Jelly Beans. Tuesdays at Jelly Beans were fun but also full of fear as many kids strapped on roller skates (or blades, whichever is you prefer) for the first time and attempted to make it to the rink. In some cases I was directly guiding kids and assisting to their needs, while at other times I was skating around singing and dancing with the kids who knew how to skate. Both occasions were fun, but there was something special about being able to help the little ones.

At one point I entered the rink and grasped the hand of a six year old who was struggling to make her way around the rink. She held on for dear life and wouldn't let go—even when she was sliding left, right, forward, backward. The little girl had no clue what she was doing, but she trusted that I did. She believed that if she held on at the end of unsteady moment she would once again return to being on her feet. In the moment of aiding the six year old I took a moment to look around at the other counselors skating around the rink. Many of them were swooping in to teach kids the basics of roller skating, even if that meant they were moving six inches every thirty seconds. I watched them as kids used them for stability, without even questioning if there was a better option. Kids grabbed on tight when they were teetering the most AND when they were skating smoothly.

It was in this moment that I realized how skating is like our relationship with Jesus. So many times we forget that holding on to God is for all moments, not just when we are having trouble keeping our balance. In Matthew 18 Jesus calls us to "become like little children," and I believe my experience at Jelly Beans was an incredible reminder of what He meant. I so often hold onto Jesus tighter when I become a little unsteady or unsure of the next step I should take. While I am trusting, I'm not relinquishing full control. Jesus wants us to hold his hand and take steps with Him in every moment. The Lord wants us to have the full trust of a child, in all situations. Whether we are learning to skate with Him for the first time or if we've been skating for years. So if I am in the middle of singing and dancing without a care in the world or I'm grasping on for life hoping not to fall again, I will trust in Jesus. I will hold his hand as He guides me through His story. Because the story of Jesus is far greater than my own! Cling to the fact that your story is God's story and is being intricately woven to redeem and restore. Jesus is the only one that fills us up and makes us whole—the one who created the mountains and seas is calling you to Him. How will you answer?

Amos 4:13

"He who forms the mountains,

who creates the wind,

and who reveals his thoughts to mankind,

who turns to darkness,

and treads on the heights of the earth—

the Lord God Almighty is his name."