Wake Up and Live!

Disneyworld reminds us to enjoy life

One of my very favorite places is Walt Disney World. I could be their poster “child!” We try to make our pilgrimage to WDW fairly often—we wouldn’t want to overstay our welcome.

Over the years, I think people have come to see Disney as the real symbol of American culture. Forget the Statue of Liberty, the Grand Canyon, and Old Faithful. America’s recreational Mecca has become Disney World. Some argue that WDW is the spirit of America, the nation’s main sacred space, the bearer of the images that carry American meaning and mission. That might be a stretch.

Disney’s mission statement is simple and straightforward: “Provide People Happiness.” They achieve their mission by focusing its energies in the realm of fantasy—convincing us that in order to find happiness we need to escape reality.

The first time I walked into The Magic Kingdom and saw Cinderella’s Castle, I about cried. Even though I was an adult with two little girls in tow, I was entranced. The Castle was majestic and magnificent. Its graceful, soaring storybook towers and turrets rose high above the rest of the theme park. I wanted to run to it and explore every nook and cranny, find all the secret passages, and climb up to the top of the tallest turret. As we got closer to the Castle, my heart raced with excitement all ready to go exploring.

I was totally and completely disappointed to discover that the Castle was just a shell. There was a restaurant and a gift shop. . . and that was it. The Castle was only a walkway to the other side of the park where we were met with an onslaught of children wanting to ride Dumbo, Peter Pan, and It’s a Small World.

Unfortunately, the very emptiness of the Castle is filled with meaning. The function of WDW is to empty us of the harsh realities of life and to become “unconscious” of the real world. It’s a never-never land of fantasy and illusion (which I still totally love!).

Disney’s mission is to help us escape life by lulling us into a fantasy-like trance. The church’s mission is to wake people up in order to experience an authentic and life-filled existence. Easter is a call to all believers announcing the dawn of our new relationship with God in Jesus our Savior. This is a radically new reality. The message of Easter wakes us, not just from a slumber, but also beckons us out of the tombs of sin, bound in grave clothes of despair, to wear robes of righteousness and hope! The only thing empty about Easter is the tomb.

Easter is the transforming power of God shaking each and everyone of us awake to a life in Jesus, a life of eternal joy, wholeness, and peace. Easter is our wake up call. So, wake up, Church! Christ is risen from the dead! Wake up to the power the risen Lord brings to our lives. Wake up to the power of the Holy Bible to speak to our lives. As Jesus called Mary’s name to finally stir her soul out of grief and despair, so Jesus calls out to each and every one of us and empowers us to bring the world back to life.

Christ has risen! He has risen indeed! Alleluia!