May we see your I.D.?
Thursday evening after a day of school shopping and Chuck E. Cheese we decided that the way to wind down was to go back to Six Flags for some evening play before heading back to Abilene. As we were in line at the only open entry gate, I took note of the guy in front of me in line. He looked vaguely familiar- like someone we may have gone to ACU with. He had three little boys in tow and was sporting season passes. Two of the boys had made it through when the attendant stopped on the third, announcing that the season pass he had was not his.
"Really?" asked the man, apparently incredulous. "I guess we brought the wrong one."
"Well," said the attendant, her face already taking on a smirk. "We can look him up. What's his name?"
"Oh, that's okay," the man said. "I'll just buy him a ticket."
"No," she insisted. "Let's look him up."
"I'll just buy him a ticket," the man repeated.
"Does he even have a season pass?" asked the attendant her smirk now growing and being joined with a evil glint in her eye.
"No," replied the man bowing his head. "Really, just let me buy a ticket."
"No, it's too late for that," said the attendant, now gloating. Then she called over Six Flags security to revoke the family's season passes and possibly more. The last time I saw the man and the boys they were being physically escorted into the bowels of Six Flags (probably more akin to Six Flogs) where I am convinced they learned first-hand that the Judge Roy Scream is more than just a roller coaster.
Now I know that although it seemed innocent enough, what this man was attempting was basic theft. I further know that he had also lied. But as I watched him get hauled away with three little boys in tow I was disturbed by the scene and could not get it out of my mind.
An obvious lesson here is Don't mess with Six Flags. The literature which accompanies a season pass purchase states clearly how they feel about such things and the consequences thereof. Further, it mentions that they will check the season pass against another form of ID should there be a question. In this case, the lack of resemblance between this 8 year-old blonde boy and a late 30's woman with long dark hair did not allow it to get that far.
For some reason, another lesson popped into my head from this, as well. Sometimes little stories like this when applied to our walk seem a bit contrived I and often shrug them off thinking that relaying them to others will be pandering. This one however stuck with me.
I thought of the parallel to this story and our eventual passage into eternity. I wonder what the gate attendant will think when we try to gain entry into Heaven. I suspect that anyone with sense would know that I would not fit the description of those who belong in Heaven. Armed with this perspective, I suspect they might ask for an ID. Then I can envision the moment when I am just about to admit my true status, Jesus would show up and say, "Sorry. I have his ID." Then he would show the attendant something in his hand I could not see and the attendant would allow me to come in.
"Jesus," I might say. "Do you really have a pass for me?"
"Sure," He might laugh.
"May I see it?" I would ask. At that point I can see Jesus holding out his hand again- empty except for a scar.
At that point I see Jesus dashing back to the gate to help someone else in. As I look on I see him showing various scars on his hands, back, head, feet; each serving as the pass allowing someone passage that would otherwise have been denied.
So, there you go. My lessons from Six Flags. Like I said, it is a bit cheesy, but I suppose it is safe to relay here because not many people read this. Besides, any chance readers have been warned that this blog contains pretty random thoughts. In this case, however, the random thoughts have managed to stick with me and remind me of the love of Jesus.
"Really?" asked the man, apparently incredulous. "I guess we brought the wrong one."
"Well," said the attendant, her face already taking on a smirk. "We can look him up. What's his name?"
"Oh, that's okay," the man said. "I'll just buy him a ticket."
"No," she insisted. "Let's look him up."
"I'll just buy him a ticket," the man repeated.
"Does he even have a season pass?" asked the attendant her smirk now growing and being joined with a evil glint in her eye.
"No," replied the man bowing his head. "Really, just let me buy a ticket."
"No, it's too late for that," said the attendant, now gloating. Then she called over Six Flags security to revoke the family's season passes and possibly more. The last time I saw the man and the boys they were being physically escorted into the bowels of Six Flags (probably more akin to Six Flogs) where I am convinced they learned first-hand that the Judge Roy Scream is more than just a roller coaster.
Now I know that although it seemed innocent enough, what this man was attempting was basic theft. I further know that he had also lied. But as I watched him get hauled away with three little boys in tow I was disturbed by the scene and could not get it out of my mind.
An obvious lesson here is Don't mess with Six Flags. The literature which accompanies a season pass purchase states clearly how they feel about such things and the consequences thereof. Further, it mentions that they will check the season pass against another form of ID should there be a question. In this case, the lack of resemblance between this 8 year-old blonde boy and a late 30's woman with long dark hair did not allow it to get that far.
For some reason, another lesson popped into my head from this, as well. Sometimes little stories like this when applied to our walk seem a bit contrived I and often shrug them off thinking that relaying them to others will be pandering. This one however stuck with me.
I thought of the parallel to this story and our eventual passage into eternity. I wonder what the gate attendant will think when we try to gain entry into Heaven. I suspect that anyone with sense would know that I would not fit the description of those who belong in Heaven. Armed with this perspective, I suspect they might ask for an ID. Then I can envision the moment when I am just about to admit my true status, Jesus would show up and say, "Sorry. I have his ID." Then he would show the attendant something in his hand I could not see and the attendant would allow me to come in.
"Jesus," I might say. "Do you really have a pass for me?"
"Sure," He might laugh.
"May I see it?" I would ask. At that point I can see Jesus holding out his hand again- empty except for a scar.
At that point I see Jesus dashing back to the gate to help someone else in. As I look on I see him showing various scars on his hands, back, head, feet; each serving as the pass allowing someone passage that would otherwise have been denied.
So, there you go. My lessons from Six Flags. Like I said, it is a bit cheesy, but I suppose it is safe to relay here because not many people read this. Besides, any chance readers have been warned that this blog contains pretty random thoughts. In this case, however, the random thoughts have managed to stick with me and remind me of the love of Jesus.
4 Comments:
Val, as a former Six Flags Over Texas performer, I can tell you that what happens to all those people is that theya re taken to the bowels of Six Falgs, dressed up in furry, wool animal suits and then paraded around the park acting as Bugs Bunny or other various questionable characters. This completes their humiliation.
Yeah, I've always thought those animals had quite the attitude. As I read the story, I couldn't help but mourn the example that father is setting for those three little boys. I hope they ALL learn a lesson.
Personally I am amazed when people get these "cheesy" but grand ideas that stick with them, they then get up the nerve to actually write about it and in turn affect someone else. I can see Jesus running back and showing my pass to the gate guard now. I love that one Val. thanks.
I am with Candy on this one. Great thoughts from an unfortunate encounter. Can anyone at Six-Flags spell MERCY..
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