Thanks for joining the ride... What does it mean? You know, I wasn’t quite sure what I meant by that until our family trip to Disney World in March. It just sounded like something cool to say. Then after watching our son, John Thomas, ride Big Thunder Mountain for the first time, it all clicked.
All of the factors surrounding the ride pointed to disaster; it was his first roller coaster, it was at night; it was during the fireworks display; it had been a very, very long day. I glanced down at him as we were ascending the hill and his face was filled with fear. He’s short, so his field of vision was limited to what was above us and to the side. As we topped the hill, the cars released from the chain, we began the descent, and the fireworks began (The timing was quite amazing). His look of fear turned into terror and I began to envision the emotional maintenance that was in store after the ride was over. The ride came to an end and his look of terror & fear immediately turned into shear joy as he said, “Daddy, let’s do that again!” Which we did, four more times that night.
We have been on a ride for the past year, more often than not I have experienced the exact same feelings & emotions as John Thomas did on that roller coaster; fear not knowing what is in before of me, uncertainty of the next turn that will throw me from one side of the car to the other, being frightened as the fireworks explode overhead, terror as I see the world fly by to my sides. It is amazing how all of these things can be combined with the joy. Joy in knowing that the ride is good, joy in knowing that I am as “safe” as the Father wants me to be.
So with that,
Thanks for joining the ride,
Ryan