Last March our family made the trip to DisneyWorld outside Orlando, Florida. The trip was phenomenal. We stayed in a Disney property overlooking a savannah created specifically for certain African animals. Our baggage magically appeared in our rooms upon arrival. At breakfast we were greeted with incredible choices for food. The buses for the parks made sure we never had to worry about transportation. Food was always available with the swipe of our Disney Passport card (room key/meal ticket/park tickets).
Every staffer greeted us with a smile and in the appropriate culture represented by their area (save a rambunctious waitress who demanded I try my dessert before signing my lunch bill). The park is kept immaculately clean and everyone, even the guests, act like they are the nicest people in the world. Our entire trip was simply amazing.
Our arrival at the airport for the return trip jolted us back to reality. People were as rude as ever. The sunburned faces of fellow tourists scowled at us from under their Goofy hats and Mickey/Minnie ears. My phone rang with work encroaching on the last precious moments of my vacation. I realized immediately life isn't DisneyWorld.
Life does not magically all work out. Life is not your friend. Life magically loses your bags on the way to your crummy hotel with bad food, dirty sheets, rude desk clerks and obnoxious neighbors. Life punches you in the gut, pokes you in the eye, kicks you in the knee and laughs in your face on the ground. Life is dirty. Life is hard. Life is far from fair.
So it's hard for us, who know just what life is, to take Jesus seriously when He says, "I came to bring you life, and life more abundant." Really, Jesus, I've found myself thinking. More of the same? Or better yet, an overflowing abundance of the same mess?
Jesus wants us to experience life unlike the life of earth. Heaven will be worth the wait. The streets will be translucent gold. The people friendly and filled with awe and joy. The food will be exquisite. And they won't lose your luggage because you can't take any with you.
Some are tempted to say DisneyWorld is like heaven. It may well be...just without the cartoon characters.
No comments:
Post a Comment