Airborne like a bullet

There is a memory that brings my mother and me into fits of giggles every time we think of the incident when she was airborne like a bullet. It was years ago when we decided to join a local gym. We bought the right attire, joined the club and was shown around the facilities. I was riding the stationary bicycle while my mother got on the treadmill.

We were clocking up the miles. I glanced at my mother walking up a storm when she put her hand to the dial to turn up the speed. I’m so glad I happened to glance over at that precise moment, because as the treadmill burst into an immediate faster speed, my mother’s body was swiftly taken to the end of the conveyor belt, causing her to fall on her front, and shooting her out like superman flying backwards. Of course I jumped off my bike and ran to her aid, but when she rolled over laughing, I joined right in. It was a hoot!

I recalled this as I was thinking about our walk with God. Life can be like training in a gym. Sometimes we’re strolling along peacefully at a very nice pace. At other times we get in a hurry. Waiting on God’s timing isn’t always a piece of cake. Human nature easily grows impatient. We may be walking in the direction God is leading when we think to ourselves that we’ll help God out; we’ll quicken our pace to get the job done more quickly. We may have the very best of intentions, but going ahead of God’s perfect timing could well send us belly flopping and flying backwards. Then we have to start all over again.

When that happens, and it happens to us all, don’t beat yourself up. That never helps. Just laugh with Jesus. Tell him you got a little ahead of yourself and ask forgiveness. Ask the Holy Spirit to keep you sensitive to God’s timing. Remember, every walk with God, in whatever direction He leads is a training moment for us. We can walk at His pace and grow stronger or we can run ahead and flop.

If you have flopped recently, may you, as the song goes from that old Fred Astaire movie, Swing Time, “pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and start all over again.” Our Heavenly Father is patient and loving — and He has a sense of humor, too.

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His Word I put my hope.” Psalm 130:5 (NIV)