Disney theme parks introduced a new ride this year to replace the old Splash Mountain. The attraction—Tiana’s Bayou Adventure—opened in Florida and debuts in Anaheim this winter.
For me, the updated ride can never match the magic I felt on my first visit to Disneyland decades ago. I arrived with my church youth group, led by our volunteer leader, James Newman, known as JE.
As we waited for opening gates, JE suggested we voice a prayer of thanks. His prayer went something like this:
“Dear God, thank you for safe travel today and our wonderful youth group. But most of all thank you for putting Disneyland here just for us! Amen.”
Before any of us had time to blink, the other youth sponsor, Mrs. Obenshain, blurted her astonishment. “JE! Why would you say that? God didn’t make Disneyland. Mr. Disney did.”
Knowing JE, we knew to expect a well-thought answer. JE was a Ford auto mechanic who had some practical ideas about God. He didn’t claim to know how this universe worked, but he could explain other realities.
“Sure he did!” JE insisted. “God created Mr. Disney’s mind, right?”
“Well, yes, but JE, honestly,” declared Mrs. O. “You can’t really conclude that …”
JE was undeterred. “If God made Mr. Disney’s mind, then God must have created the picture of Disneyland in his mind long before Mr. Disney could draw it, right?”
“But JE…” Mrs. O was wavering.
“Look,” JE said in his Oklahoma twang. “Don’t the Bible say, ‘All good things come from God?’”
Mrs. O was slack-jawed. JE continued, “And ain’t Disneyland a good thing?”
Deterred by logic too simple to be wrong, Mrs. O simply muttered something like, “Well, I guess so.”
I remember JE’s theology because I’ve heard it from many patients over the years. They spoke with assurance that God made a certain hospital just for them. Or they believed God placed a certain doctor or medicine to specifically help them.
A father told me how a surgeon was going to reach into the center of his 2-year-old daughter’s brain and pull out a tumor.
The dad’s theology: “God put this surgeon here for my daughter.”
His declaration, like JE’s, sounded more self-centered than God-centered.
Or maybe not.
What I found astounding about both men was how they relied on an innate understanding of the works of God. Neither had graduated from a theological or philosophical school. Yet they identified “goodness” as one of the most important attributes of God.
The dad didn’t need to be a philosopher to acknowledge his good fortune at finding a talented surgeon. JE didn’t have to be a Bible professor to recognize that Disneyland might provide one of many tools he could use to mentor and instruct our youth group in God’s ways.
We often search far and wide to understand God. We read so much and attend every sort of lecture. Yet I believe most of the time God manifests his goodness in those people and things he puts directly in our paths.
In the end, Mrs. O couldn’t refute JE’s theology.
Finally, she mumbled, “Do you have our tickets, JE?”
Her request signaled the end of the theological debate, and we rushed to get in line. Like JE, we all knew goodness when we saw it.
Norris Burkes can be reached at comment@thechaplain.net. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. Burkes is available for public speaking at civic organizations, places of worship, veterans groups and more. For details and fees, visit thechaplain.net.
