We walked briskly towards our next ride. People hurried past us, brushing into our shoulders as they made their way through the crowd. Some families rested on benches outside little shops, while others sat at restaurant tables eating the food we hungrily craved. Mickey Mouse hats, princess dresses, and giant Winnie the Pooh stuffed bears speckled the landscape with Disney.
As we weaved our way through the mob, I made a quick glance toward my family on my left to make sure I was still with them. To my surprise, I saw my mom holding on to Layne who started throwing up. Looking at the littered pavement, the rest of us kids wondered how to help. While Layne and mom hurried off to find a bathroom and the oblivious crowd walked past without a glance, we guarded the mess on the ground so no one would step in it. We were a little embarrassed, but more than that, our hearts broke for Layne.
It was our first day in Disneyland – “the happiest place on earth” – and Layne was miserable.
She wasn’t the only one though. I heard a family grumble about a ride that was closed, saw a little boy cry because the ride was too scary, and watched a pregnant mother wait alone next to her stroller while the rest of her family enjoyed a roller coaster.
I realized “the happiest place on earth” wasn’t as happy as it was made out to be. It still disappointed, left people wanting more.
The day Layne got sick, one thought rarely left my mind.
Everything is meaningless under the sun
…even Disneyland.
The pleasures in this life are a striving after the wind. Fleeting. Momentary. Short-lived. Why worry yourself over having your best life now? It’s a wasted effort. Meaningless.
Rejoice that the Happiest Place is still to be enjoyed.
We’re ready for you. Come soon, King Jesus!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 messages:
Amen. Thanks, Les. Wonderfully written.
Your religion has lied to you, poor Leslie. The second chance at life you believe you will have is merely smoke and mirrors invented to ease the transition from life to death during a time when the typical life expectancy was around 40 and people believed that stars were dead heroes. As an intelligent girl you should be able to rationalise that the 'second life' you seek has already been realised my medicinal science, your life expectancy has been DOUBLED. It's extremely selfish to believe you're entitled to an eternity of afterlife bestowed by an invisible deity if you are to casually discard the extra 40 you have been provided by your own brothers and sisters planet side.
Post a Comment