Two weeks ago, Paul and I went to see our oldest son, Ben. Since he had a couple days off from work, we asked him what he would like to do while we were there. He said that since we never took him to an amusement park when he was little,he would like to go to Cliff's Amusement Park! And. . . if we went, we would have to ride the rides with him! Not realizing that we had deprived him of a childhood dream, we thought we better indulge him and go. But, after we said "sure, let's go", we thought more about what we'd agreed to do! We started getting cold feet, and wanted to back out. "Were the rides as wild as they say they are?" "Will our bodies (not to mention our hearts!)be strong enough to take the trauma?" "We're in our 50's! We're too old to do this!" Fear and trepidation began to set in! But, any of you out there who have ever had kids, know that once you commit, you better be ready to follow through! So. . . off we went to Cliffs - 2 very nervous, gray-haired 50=somethings and one very strong and muscular 25 year old, who had been through Army boot camp and a tour in Iraq! To him this was a piece of cake! He smiled as he watched his ol' mom and dad walk to the ticket gate, knowing what was in store for us that day! The first ride, at first looked harmless enough -- that is, until we got a closer look. It was a circular contraption with seats attach firmly (hopefully!) around the perimeter. When the wheel began to move, the seats went around and around with it. "Oh, this won't be too bad, right? It's like a ferris wheel. We can do this! So, we got on and the young attendant lowered a iron vest over our shoulders and lap. "Oh no, this isn't good," I thot! It was then we realized that at the top we would be UPSIDE DOWN, and this was to prevent us from falling out! Well, it was too late to back out now, so off we went, around and around, faster and faster! All I could do was close my eyes and pray. Paul nearly lost his glasses, and when we thot that we couldn't hang on much longer, we slowed down and came to a stop! Mercifully, we found our legs and were able to walk away from it all. But it was only to be confronted with the next ride - "The Rattler". We heard screaming and saw kids flying past us on a roller coaster fit only for the young and restless! Paul said, "I'm taking my glasses off for this one." I sat on my hat. Ben just laughed! After we were barred in, a young lady started the ride. Now, I'm sure the view from up that high must have been spectacular, but we were moving so fast and jerking so violently, whipping this way and that, no person in their right mind would have appreciated it, much less have seen it! Besides, I had my eyes closed the whole time (praying out loud, of course) I looked over at Paul and he had his eyes closed too. He told me to be quiet. "Don't talk any more. I need to concentrate!" After what seemed like an eternity we rounded the last sharp turn and flew down the incline and the coaster slowed down. We couldn't wait to get off! Ben and I got out and we stood there waiting for Paul. He was still in his seat. His lap bar was stuck and he couldn't get out. We thought he would have to ride the course again, but the attendant came to his rescue and released him. After having endured those first two rides, we felt we could handle anything. Little did we know which ride Ben had in mind next---"The Cliff Hanger". Paul quickly bowed out and so as not to break our promise to Ben, I bravely said I would go with him. We buckled ourselved into our seats---bars across our shoulders and lap. The attendant went around 3 times and checked to make sure we were were fastened securely in our seats, and then the ride began. Slowly we were transported straight up this tall pole-like structure, until we were at least 10 stories high! Of course, my eyes were tightly closed the whole vertical trip! I wanted to get off, but it was too late. Up and up we went. I received no comfort from my oldest son. He said, "I don't like heights. Oh this is bad." When I am sure we were up in the midst of the clouds we stopped. Here it comes, said Ben. Before I could even catch my breath, we plunged down to the ground at lightning speed. My heart was in my throat, my hair stood on end, and my sitter was NOT in the seat! As I saw my life flash before me, I prepared to meet my Maker! And then we stopped, inches from the ground. I opened my eyes, and caught my breath! I'm alive, I thought! It's a miracle! If I hadn't been so grateful to be alive I would have wondered what all those young people around us were thinking when they saw a pale 52 year old woman staggering off the Cliff Hanger. I now knew why we had NEVER taken our kids to amusement parks when they were younger!
I won't bore you with any of the other rides we went on. Suffice it to say that they too were hair-raising---at least for middle aged folks who are only used to the thrill and excitement of fishing at Clayton Lake State Park! After about 2 hours at the park Ben informed us that he had had enough. I'm sure he was thoroughly embarrassed to be at an amusement park, accompanied by his parents, who were aging more and more by the minute! But as I reflect on our adventures at Cliffs I am reminded of the importance of FAITH in our lives. It took a LOT of faith for Paul and I to ride those wild rides at the amusement park. We had to have faith in the machinery that operated the rides. We had to trust that they would run safely and properly, stay on their tracks and stop when they needed to stop. Sure, we were apprehensive and even afraid, but in the back of our minds, we knew they must be safe, or else they wouldn't allow people to ride them. It's the same with faith, and our ride through life with Jesus Christ. Sometimes the ride can be scary. We encounter twists and turns in our life, and we can't see where we are going. We feel like we are falling, but in the back of our minds, we know who is in control! We know that Jesus is there and he won't let us fall. He will guard and protect us at every twist and turn. He walks beside us in the journey of life. When things get rough, he carries us. We can and we should trust him. If we are trusting enough to risk life and limb at the hand of man-made machinery at an amusement park, how much more should we trust a Savior who loved us enough to die on the cross to save us from eternal death?