Rocket Jets: Trusting Our Dad

 

Andy had another Tomorrowland experience that he told me about. This one on the Rocket Jets.

Now, this was back when they were above the People Mover track, where that odd sculpture—the Observatron—is now. He used to ride the Rocket Jets with his Dad. Andy always enjoyed the ride. They got in and put the belt on. All he could see was the sky, and he knew the stick would make the rocket go up or down, which was fun. So he really enjoyed it. His Dad never seemed fond of it, though, and he didn’t know why.

As an adult, he rode it again, and found out why his Dad wasn’t a fan of it. As a child, the edge of the rocket came up to just above his head, so all he could see was the sky. As an adult, the edge of the rocket came to just about his waist. Suddenly, what had been fun was frightening. More than three stories above the ground. Tilted at an angle that feels pretty steep. A simple lap belt and a vehicle side that comes only to his waist. He knew a lot more, he could see a lot more, and there was no one else in there to help secure him or make him feel safer.

Is that really so different from the way we live our lives? We go through tough times, and because we’re trusting in God, we get through them. Sometimes they go smoothly, but not always. But that doesn’t matter. As long as we’re fully devoted to Him, we know that ultimately we’ll be OK. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 (MSG) says,

“We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, He does in us—He lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us.”

A contemporary expression comes from singer Scott Krippayne. The chorus to his song “Sometimes He Calms the Storm” goes like this:

Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered “Peace, be still”.
He can settle any sea,
But it doesn’t mean He will.
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild.
Sometimes He calms the storm,
And other times He calms His child.

We don’t have the promise of an easy life, but we do have the promise of a safe arrival.