Green Light

I was born and raised in Florida (still live here) which meant summers were HOT! Not just hot, but also humid, sticky, and just plain gross!

So, naturally I would always wanted to be in or near water because that was one of the only ways to enjoy the heat!

When I was kid, I would go to the water park near my house. It had so many fun slides, cliffs to jump off of, a wave pool, and all the adults favorite - the lazy river. Which for the record, as a kid I hated the lazy river! I was a thrill seeker and always found the tallest and fastest slide. After all, who wanted to just lay in an inner tube and float in circles?! Not me! (But this is exactly where I would go today...I totally get it now)!

This particular year I was finally tall enough to go down the tall, white slide called the Tampa Typhoon. Now this slide has since been closed. Rumor has it someone died on the slide (may their soul rest in peace), but who knows if that’s actually true! Anyway, it was MY year to go down the Tampa Typhoone, and to show my friends how brave and awesome I was.

(<---Actual slide)

Now another thing to picture, for those of you who were deprived of water parks growing up, is that you had to climb SO many stairs to get to the top and not only that, you also had to wait in a long line all while your feet were burning from the hot stairs.

It was all worth it though for the 10 seconds of fun, right?!

I was finally at the top, about 7 stories high (I’m telling y’all this was a big slide) and when you are about to go down the slide there is a light that signals when to go.

It had two colors, red which meant you can’t go down the slide yet and green meant go.

Well, when that light hits green you better go because there’s a whole long line waiting after you to go on the slide! I’m sitting in the slide looking down and I got SO scared. I was actually praying the light would stay red longer so I could take a few more deep breaths before I die (this is what it felt like was going to happen)! Then the light turned green and it was like I did as well. I felt so so sick and I just wanted to call it quits.

However I was, and still am, super competitive. So if that person in front of me went down the slide than so can I because I’m just as good as them! It took me quite a bit of time, but I finally let go of the side and allowed the rush of the water to push me QUICKLY down the slide. This slide was so fast I remember lifting off of it slightly on the way down. ALSO not to even mention that NO ONE told me to clinch my butt on the way down, holy wedgie!!!

So if you’ve followed my blogs from this point until now, first off thank you, second of all you know I love to take my real life stories and make them applicable to life.

This is one of my favorite childhood memories, and I got to asking myself why it was one of my favorites. I came to the conclusion it was because I was so proud of myself for letting go of the slide's ledge, not because I wanted to, but because the light was green and it was my time to go!

I believe as Christians we often wait for “green lights“ and “open doors“ in our lives before we step into that next destination, and I do not think this is the wrong mindset to have. However, what if there is an open door or green light in your life right now. But, what if you are too afraid or it’s not the timing you have hoped so you are holding on and are not “sliding” into what is next.

As Christians, we aren’t the ones who tell us when we are ready- God is. He knows exactly when to give us that green light, He knows best. We can sometimes be blinded because we choose not to see what is right in front of us. We may not be willing to sacrifice what feels comfortable to us, unknown waters are scary!

God promises to “Never leave us or forsake us.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) So that includes when times are tough and unknowns are scary and letting go is hard. That includes leaving an unhealthy relationship or job situation, walking away from your addiction and into the freedom He has for you. That includes He is with you single moms, single dads, children with no place to call home, women who have lost children, men struggling to find work and provide. Everyone. Is. Included.

When will you realize that God is right there, holding you? You have your green light, you have your open door all you need now is to let go! Fall into the arms of Jesus who will guide you into your next steps of your journey. Sure it will be scary, but it will be rewarding. So rewarding.

Are you ready to let go?