Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin: Out of Control

Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin is one of only two rides in Mickey’s Toontown (the other being Gadget’s Go Coaster). It was also the first dark ride to open since Pinocchio’s Daring Journey 11 years earlier.

 

This ride is unique in that it combines elements of two other types of attractions into a single ride:

1. it has the vehicle on a track going through show scenes like a typical dark ride
2. it has a wheel that guests can use to control the motion and spin the vehicle a full 360°, much like the Mad Tea Party.

 

That’s the theory, anyway. Now, don’t get me wrong; I really enjoy this attraction, but let me tell you, the spinning is a lot of work! The entire ride is high-energy, fast-paced, often frenetic ride through the story. There’s so much to see and take in and it all goes by so rapidly that it can feel overwhelming. The car spins somewhat on its own, but seemingly at random.

 

If you want to spin it yourself, there’s the “natural” direction, where the wheel turns fairly easily, and the opposite direction where it’s very difficult to turn the wheel. If you want to try to to keep the car pointed in a specific direction (forward, for example) so you can see something specific, forget it. In fact, the last couple of times I’ve ridden Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin I was so tired after getting off I wanted to go into Mickey’s house and take a nap. [Disclaimer: You can’t really take a nap in Mickey’s house.]

 

It was so much effort to turn the wheel and it accomplished virtually nothing. The ride was still chaotic. I was still whipped this way and that, and the wheel ultimately provided only an illusion of control. If I hadn’t touched it at all for the duration of the ride, I would have had essentially the same experience, but without wearing myself trying to fight for a little bit of control that really made no difference.

 

What do we call it when we do the same thing in our lives? The truth is, we usually don’t call it anything, but in those rare moments of honesty, it comes down to one word: worry.

• We worry about money, so we hold onto it so tightly we fear unexpected expenses, a job loss, or even generosity. After all, if we don’t keep as much as we possibly can, how will we ever have enough?
• We worry about our career, so we keep jobs we hate, take the first one that comes along when we’ve been unemployed, and never take a risk.
• We worry about our health, so we obsessively read articles about nutrition, watch videos about exercise, and study up on every new malady that comes on the scene. (Of course, we do all these things sitting on the couch, eating fast food, and wondering why we’re in the shape we’re in.)
• We worry about our country, so we shout from the rooftops our political positions, insult and vilify those who disagree with us, and complain when “our candidate” doesn’t win the election. Or worse, we gloat when he does. As long as we can convince others that we’re right and they’re wrong, everything will be fine.

 

I could go on and on. I’m sure you worry about things not on this list. To be very honest, so do I. The point is that when we worry, we preoccupy our minds with the problem, and often preoccupy our efforts with minimizing the possibility that what we worry about will happen. We make sure we fix it so it can’t possibly break.

 

There are three problems with that. First, most of what we worry about won’t happen anyway, so we’re wasting out time and effort. Second, we don’t have the skills, resources, and abilities to fix every possible problem and prevent them all from happening. At least one is going to slip through, and then all of our efforts were for nothing—just like trying to control the wheel in the ride.

 

Finally, and most importantly, it’s all about us. Worry focuses our attention around us and in us. What can I do to fix my problem? How can I make sure this thing I’m worrying about doesn’t happen? Look at how many things there are to worry me! What’s missing in this picture? God is.

 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

^“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:25-33)

 

Is there something you can clearly do that will make a difference in the area you worry about? For example, if you worry about your health, can you improve your eating habits, or go for a brisk walk every evening? If so, do it. (Notice Jesus doesn’t say don’t act when you have the ability, don’t plan, prepare, or be wise. He says don’t worry.)

 

If not, if there’s something that is effectively out of the area of control God has entrusted to you, let go of the wheel. Stop fighting. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

 

 

Question: What do you worry about (the first thing that pops into your mind)? Now, what would be different in your life if you sought God’s kingdom & His righteousness in that area? Talk about it in the comments below, or on our Facebook page.