What is the good pain?  The good pain is that pain that’s needed to make progress. You know, the pain you feel after you complete your workout.  That good muscle soreness that makes you feel like you’re fine all of a sudden.  Like your muscles are bulging just a tad bit more.  Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about.  Not that I experience that good pain as much as I should but that’s not the point of this article. That good pain is the same pain that Muhammad Ali knew all to well and was willing to endure to accomplish his goal of becoming “The Champ”.

Many of us have dreams and visions but are we willing to take the risks that are necessary to bring those dreams to life? As Ali stated, “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing.”  What is it that stops us from taking those risks?  Is it the fear of failure? The fear of what people will think? The fear of the unknown?or The fear of the journey that lies ahead? Whatever the fear may be, we have to gather our strength and go!

Life is definitely a roller coaster.  When we visit the theme park we approach the rides with so much excitement! Let’s ride that one!!  Which one?  Life!!! It’s the fastest and has the highest drop!!  By the time we reach the long line we’re still excited,  but a little anxious.  As we move even closer to the front of the line, we start to have second thoughts. ..  “Should I get on this thing?  Am I going to make it?” “I have to pee!”  And then,  in rolls the roller coaster filled with people displaying an array of emotions.  Some more excited than they were before they took the first ride, some that vow never to ride again, some in tears and some still as fearful as they were when the ride started.  Now it’s your turn to make that final decision, “Do I take the ride? or Do I just walk across and get off the ride?”  If we decide to take the ride, we strap ourselves in so we can remain secure for the journey and follow the directions of the ride attendant.  We close our eyes as we climb the highest hill while our hearts almost pound through our chests but there’s still a sense of excitement along with fear.  Then we’re dropped!!!! AYYYYYYYY!!!!  The drop happened so quickly we didn’t have time to brace ourselves but at least we’re still strapped in and moving steady with a quick twist and turn here and there.  Oh no, oh no, we’re climbing another hill!! Look I can see the city from up here!  Oh yeah, there’s the Ma…AHHHHHHH and we’re dropped again!!  And more twists and turns ups and downs and then we’re screaming to the top of our lungs as we go through two loops!!  Suddenly…  we slow down a bit and come to a screeching halt.

Moral of the story… When we look  at a roller coaster we know it has twists and turns ups and downs.   We just don’t know when those twists and turns will take place and how it will feel.  A lot of us still make the brave decision to take the ride.  Taking risks in life are the same. We know we will survive like most of those that have taken the journey before us. We’re not alone.  We must strap ourselves on this journey with prayer so that you can remain secure on the ride.  Follow the directions given to you by God because He is the engineer of the this roller coaster of Life (Jeremiah 29:11) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future).  If we don’t take the risk, we’ll never know what could have been.  If we do take the risk,  there will be unexpected ups and downs just like the unexpected drops of the roller coaster.  The drops don’t last forever.  There will be extenuating circumstances beyond our control that will take place.  Moments where we’ll want to scream and some of us will scream,  but it’s all apart of the roller coaster of life.  It is the obstacles, twists and turns, ups and downs that make our journey our own and make our roller coaster uniquely manufactured.  In the words of our champ, The Greatest Muhammad Ali, “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing.” So be a risk taker and have the best ride ever as you experience the good pain of life!!