The Well of Death
In India they have a strange attraction for thrill-seekers called ,"The Well of Death". The Well is somewhat like a race track that is constructed above the ground, but it isn't just a normal race track: Instead of the normal oval shape, it is perfectly circular.
And here's the dangerous part: the well has sides about 7 metres high that slope steeply from the ground, and it takes all of 4 or 5 seconds to make one circuit around the track since it is only about 8 metres in diameter at the bottom and only slightly larger at the top. Can you picture it? Essentially it's like being on the inside of a very large coffee cup. The spectators sit on the top of this "coffee cup" as if they are peering over the rim down into the well. At the bottom sits someone on a motorcycle. As the crowd waits, the rider steels her will and starts to ride the bike around in circles. She starts out at the bottom and eventually works her way to the top, riding with her body almost parallel to the ground far below her. She has to keep the bike going at a certain speed. If she goes too slow, she will fall down to the bottom of the well. If she goes too fast, she may find herself flying over the top, probably taking some of the spectators with her. Sounds amazing? You ain't heard nothin' yet! While she is riding her motorcycle, someone in a small car starts the perilous trek up the side of the well. This is more difficult, since they both have to be aware of where the other person is at and the car is heavier than the bike. Round and round the track they ride, risking their lives to go nowhere fast. Why do they do it? No one really knows.
Sometimes life can feel like "The Well of Death". In order to survive, we must drive ourselves at break neck speed, but, even when we do that successfully, we find ourselves risking our lives to go nowhere fast. Why do we do it? No one really knows. Running in circles, we sometimes find ourselves compelled to perform, to produce, to do. But life wasn't meant to be this way, forever running but never resting. So, Jesus came into the Well of Death and told us something very important:
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
To escape The Well of Death, it helps to know The God of Life.
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10