“He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together” (Colossians 1:17).

Some people prefer roller coasters in amusement parks. Others prefer bumper cars. I personally choose the Ferris wheel, also known as an observation wheel. I haven’t ridden many of them, but I’ve always enjoyed being at their highest point and from there seeing the whole city lit up.

I once stood in line for a long time to ride one that was next to a busy pier in Chicago. The first giant wheel in the world had been built there as an attraction for the 1893 World Exposition. The Eiffel Tower had been inaugurated a few years before then for the Paris Exposition, so it was a great challenge. But engineers, architects and other people in charge supported the project and it was very successful.

Now I was standing in front of the second version, and even though it wasn’t as tall, it was nonetheless impressive and picturesque, I began observing it carefully and realized many times we’re like giant wheels. We get used to having things always revolve around an axis (often our «selves»), we go through highs and lows, we get used to them and sometimes even want to remain in that somewhat unstable cycle. We settle for feeling the adrenaline of being up high, even if it’s just once in a while.

But there’s another very important aspect of Ferris wheels: no matter what size they are, before they are set in motion, the person in charge comes by to make sure the safety rail is locked and to give some instructions. Sometimes two people sit in one seat and other times they stand in an enclosed structure that can hold several people. Whatever the case, certain safety precautions and compliance on behalf of those travelling is required to avoid unnecessary risks.

How different things would be if we remembered that our axis should be Christ; if our life revolved around Him; if we acknowledged that both the highs and lows of our journey are valuable moments of the road and that we can learn much needed ways of viewing life from both instances! In addition, God comes to us each day and reminds us of the best way to behave so we can enjoy the ride.