Do you remember your first extreme rollercoaster ride? You know, not the standard stroll through the park coaster, but gut aching, fear drenching, adrenaline rushing ride of terror. I remember my first ride on an extreme coaster called the Colossus-The Fire Breathing Dragon at Lagoon Amusement Park in Utah. I was so excited to see this new coaster that towered above all the other rides and you could hear the roar of the train and the screams throughout the park. As I walked up to it for the first time, I hoped I would be tall enough to ride the awesome Colossus and conquer the Fire Breathing Dragon.
Getting through the first gate and while standing on my toes I passed the height requirement, but now waiting in line I watched the terror on adult faces zoom by me, and the deafening roar of the Colossus. Fear began to creep up and push out my initial excitement. The closer I got to the boarding platform the greater my fear, anxiety and hesitation grew. When it came time to board the Colossus, all I wanted to do was run, and I would have if the guy behind me didn’t push me into the seat. While sitting there immobilized by fear the safety harness came down locking me in and the pimple faced ride operator gave encouraging instructions to “keep your legs and arms inside the ride at all times or you will DIE…do not spit…or you will DIE…secure your sunglasses, toupees and keys or you will DIE”. Actually I didn’t even hear a word he said, I just remember thinking I am going to DIE. The Colossus is going to chew me up, spit me out, and then barbecue me with his fiery breath.
Swoosh the hydraulics shot us up the back of the mighty Colossus and the anticipation during the climb made my heart race. I felt Closter phobic, trapped, and I earnestly prayed “Dear Jesus…save me.” This was not fun anymore. The train seemed suspended for a moment at the top of the first drop then with lightning speed it sped straight down then up toward the double loops, spirals, and curves. My whole body became one muscle, tensed, rigid. I gripped my harness with all my strength and I let out a high pitched scream that would have made Pavarotti envious till all the air in my body had been expelled. As the train came to a swooshing stop, the harness released and I got out. My legs wobbled, dried tear streaks went back to my ears, my heart felt as if it would beat right out of my chest, and I looked at my friend and muttered breathlessly “Let’s do it AGAIN!”
It was an exhilarating joy that I experienced. In the face of terror with fear, anxiety and trepidation I conquered the Dragon. When I think of joy I think of that day. One phrase we have heard from Nehemiah 8:10 is “the joy of the Lord is my strength”. As I remember my Colossus experience I see Christ’s presence, strength, encouragement, and security as that safety harness that pinned me to my seat. Without that harness, the ride truly would have been a ride of terror and death. Like the ride the dangers of life, the breathless fear and anxiety we face in marriage, raising children, finances, finding work, running a business, health issues, addictions, etc. can be threatening, intimidating, and hopeless. With Christ as our safety harness that fear is replaced by joy. It is a joy of security and confidence in Christ.
When you have a dragon in your life that needs to be conquered remember the phrase “the joy of the Lord is my strength”.
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