When Going Downhill is a Good Thing
Rounding the off-ramp onto Rt 1 toward Raleigh, I could tell something wasn’t right. I’ve always wondered why car commercials advertise cars that go from zero to sixty in 1.5 seconds, and now I know. The line of traffic behind me was probably just hoping I could get from 0-30 in a day. Cars, SUVs, vans, and tractor trailers went speeding by at what seemed like the speed of light. My car was sputtering and took about two minutes to reach my cruising max of 45 mph. I stayed in the right lane so as not to spark anyone’s road rage. I noticed that when you’re running sluggish, you look back alot to see if anyone’s trying to get by.
Looking in my rear-view mirror, I saw the lowest hanging cloud I’ve ever seen, and it was following my car. I’ve never wanted to be, “That guy,” driving in a smokin
g jalopy like the Beverly Hillbillies, but now I was, “That guy.” I think something wasn’t right. No power, engine misfiring, and and a line of traffic behind me spelled one thing….a long way home. Every slight incline and the car came to a near stop. On the other side…a decline. Lord thank you. Uphill…Lord, HELP! Down hill…”Ahhh, Now that’s what I’m talking about.” In my mind, instead of counting how many miles till I get home, I was counting how many hills before I made it home. I’m probably not the only one to feel this way.
At one point, an empty tow truck behind me pulled in front of me and I thought I sensed a miracle. Faster than I could say blog, off the exit ramp he went. Empty hitch and all. Five miles into a 25 mile trip, my sister called. I gave her a blow by blow report. She asked how long before I got home. “About six prayers,” I said. On one long hill up, 10 miles from home, the car came to a stop…but God did not.
When we often speak of life going downhill, it’s not a good thing. Downhill, downsize, down and out, or just feeling down. Always seems like something to be avoided. But…the older I get, the more I’m convinced we just need to thank God for the ups…and the downs. The scripture says, In ALL things give thanks, for this is God’s will” 1 Thess. 5:18 “At ALL times, with ALL kinds of prayers, .” Eph. 6:18 That word “All,” needs no clarification. Every person I know who’s made it up a mountain, to a peak, or, to “the top,” had to experience the bottom.
My car gave out on an incline that day, three hills from home. The decline never came, and on the side of the road I sat. Did I stay there? Nope. Did help come? Yep. Was it the way I wanted that trip to go? Nope. But I’m sitting here typing this because we will NEVER, EVER be left on any hill alone. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Today, thank God for the ups…and the downs….they both lead home.