I saw this plaque in a store window in Michigan recently. I snapped a quick picture. I didn’t need the plaque, but I love the statement.
I dont’ know where the saying originated, but the most memorable time I heard it was when Jack Nicholson said it in the movie “Bucket List”. It’s a powerful and true statement about life.
It has a similar thought process to one of my favorite verses from Scripture. Ecclesiastes 11:3: “If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.”
It reminds me that life happens. Seasons change. Troubles come and they go. You cannot navigate around them. The wheels on the bus go round and round. Sometimes fast. Sometimes slow. Occasionally over rough terrain. At times suffering from a flat tire or two…
I’m also reminded that during the toughest times of life, when we can’t seem to catch our breath and the wheels are turning so swiftly, that:
- We learn more.
- Our faith grows
- Our witness potential expands
- Our God can be glorified
How are your wheels turning today? Which season are you in right now?
Reminds me of the old Burt Bacharach song: "Three wheels on my wagon, but I'm still rollin' along…"
There's a line: "Pioneers, they never say die".
That's us! through thick and thin we follow our Master and he cares for us every step of the way. There have been times this year when the wheels have fallen off for me, but I got up again and got going, by his grace.
Don't remember the song…but remember the artist. Thanks for sharing.
My whole life has been a series of these things. Early on I was shy and felt put down, but had one point of light in that I did well in school. Most of my young adult life was punctuated by working hard, doing well and feeling rewarded by God and those around me. Then went into a long season of working hard, but no reward, feeling like a failure although I was providing, feeling abandoned by God even though He was right in front of me, hurting the one person I loved the most (I know, sounds like a paradox). Then moved into a season of intense pain as that person started to pull away from me in all the most important ways, but at the same time, God became obvious in my life again and He's healed so much of what went on before. Now am in a season of mixed emotion. Joy at what God has done in my life and the possibilities of where this might take me. Joy at the intense love I have again for my wife, but ache and pain that she doesn't seem to share that. But all through this He has taught me to persevere, to trust, to love my wife unconditionally, and to seek His will and provision for my every need.
Really praying for a time like I had when I was first married. To be full of His presence, joy in His love and the love of my wife and to feel loved and respected each and every day. To work hard and see the fruits of that labor. Those thoughts transfix me and pull me forward, but at the same time the fear that they won't happen, because I don't know His plan, pain me deeply.
But the wheels keep on turning and I keep on trying to be in His will every day.
I'm with you Jon. Happy Thanksgiving.
Hi Ron, Really like this article. I will keep an eye on how my wheels are turning a little more now. I agree that the rough patches of life are ripe with opportunity to learn, grown and expand…if we decide to let them move us forward rather than stop us or move us backward. Nice words and thought-provoking. Thank you.
Thanks Marion.