Fantasyland: Going Around in Circles

We’ve looked in previous posts on this blog at Fantasyland. At Peter Pan’s Flight, and the risks of never growing up. At Alice in Wonderland and living in a world that doesn’t always make sense. Even at the Matterhorn and the decision between living a life looking to the future or retreating into a fantasy world.

Today, we’re going to make a general observation about Fantasyland.

There are more rides in Fantasyland than in any other land at Disneyland that share a specific trait in common.

• The Mad Tea Party (Tea Cups)
• King Arthur Carrousel
• Dumbo
• The old Motor Boat Cruise
• Even the very briefly-lived Canal Boats of the World (which became Storybook Land Canal Boats in 1956).

 

All have one purpose: to go in circles. There is no purpose but the journey itself. No story, no progress, no destination but the same place they started. (In an ironic twist, the Fantasyland attraction that features the song, “we’re merrily on our way to nowhere in particular” actually does have a story.)
That’s what life grounded in fantasy rather than the reality of faith. Vicious circles. Futile effort. The giant hamster wheel of life.

Call it what you will. The truth is that it ultimately doesn’t get you anywhere. Living in Fantasyland, not accepting and dealing with the realities of life—both good and bad, both seen and unseen—will get you nowhere.

 

But a life of faith firmly grounded in truth and reality—including the reality of faith—will take you to places you never imagined, beyond your greatest fantasy.