Ever felt as if you were taking a spin on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride? Puttering along at a gentle speed, music in the background…although the music may be repetitively annoying.

Then, all of a sudden, you’re jerked to the left and plunged down a dark tunnel. You climb to get out, only to face various, irritating characters, and serious roadblocks.

Life. Yep.

Life here at the Casa de Quandt has been one wild ride, of the Mr. Toad variety.

We were on the tail end side of X, which we’d dealt with for one and a half years. We were no longer in the middle of the tunnel, but about to punch through. The ride had slowed to a manageable pace.

Next thing we know, we’re slammed with Y. While Y has been on the horizon, and certainly did not develop over night, it knocked us into a whirl of added confusion.

In the midst of dealing with X and Y, Z broadsided me with a gale force, which threatened to shiver me timbers.

Just like on raging roller coasters, where brave, albeit not within my definition of sane, people jostle for the front seat of the Death-defying Super Monster Assassin of Doom, and fling their arms skyward, as they plummet waaay too many feet for my comfort, I found myself raising my arms in surrender. I could not handle the combination of X, Y, and Z.

I was done. As Pilot likes to say, “Done. Stick a fork in it.” I could no longer handle it. But that didn’t mean I was defeated. Nope. Anything, but.

For when I surrendered, Jesus took over. He slowed the wild ride, or at least balanced my equilibrium to a tolerable level. That works for me.

Years ago, when Pie was in middle school, he created a sign with our Commodore 64 computer and dot-matrix printer. Yeah. YEARS ago.

Pie taped the paper sign to the door of our garage, which led inside the house.

Below the words, SE of Disorder, sat a sailboat.

Pie had taken the line from one of the songs on my Jimmy Buffet tapes. The sentiment described our lives perfectly, at the time.

Too bad I didn’t learn to throw my hands up in surrender to God’s plan, and Jesus’ help, sooner.

Still learning.

Feel like you’re stuck on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride? Ask God to stop the madness. Hand him the wheel. Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you. (1Peter 5:7)

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

I wish you well.

Sandy

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