Chapter Fifteen: A Day in the Laundry, a Night in the World
Watching Illuminations is worship for me. I dont mean I worship the show, the park in which it takes place or even the Earth it kind of celebrates. But watching Illuminations reminds me of how small I am in the much bigger universe in which I live. And if all creation bears witness to the Creator, then I reckon that includes created things, like Illuminations. I think about this Rich Mullins song, it took the hand of God almighty to part the waters in the sea, but it only took one little lie to separate you and me, oh we are not as strong as we think we are. I watch the symphony of fireworks, fire, lasers and music play out in front of me. And I am amazed. Awed. Im reminded that the world God created for us is huge and complex and filled with His manifold blessings.
Including Walt Disney World.
I stand at the edge of the lake with my little girl whos no longer afraid of fireworks and with our good friends who love Jesus and love Disney too and I notice the lake is lined with thousands of people enjoying the show. And Im aware that Im not as strong as I think I am. For all of my so-called wit and alleged talent, I cant do what God has done.
I doubt the creators of Illuminations had any of that in mind when they created the show. But when I watch it, I see the hand of God almighty separating the waters in the sea, speaking the world into existence. And creating me and you. Not on accident, mind you. But purposefully. We are fearfully and wonderfully made.
And yet, we are not as strong as we think we are.
Standing in the shadow of the final burst of fireworks, I am reminded that I am but a very small part of this incredible world God has created. Yet, even though I am but one man among billions of people, God knows my name and He loves me, too.
I dont think anything happens by accident and I believe all good things are created by God. So Im not so surprised as I listen to the post-show song, Promise, and find lyrics which suggest Gods hand is evident in places we dont always expect to find it:
There is music
If you listen
In the rhythm of each breath we take
Destinations undiscovered
Revelations from every choice we make
And I know
There are diamonds dancing in the sky
All we have to do is open our eyes.
Indeed.
Whether the diamonds dancing are the stars He placed in the sky or a well-crafted fireworks display He inspired, all creation bears witness to the Creator.
We met up with my wife and the baby and we walked out with our friends, laughing and talking. We stopped near the International Gate and let the kids run around. Run around and be kids. They had a time. It was still kind of warm and the pictures we took bear witness to how hot we were.
We said goodbye to our friends and walked back to the Boardwalk. We were feeling a little hungry so we stopped in the bakery for snacks. The incredible aroma that meets your nose when the door opens will make you hungry even if you werent already. But Im ZZUB; it just made me hungrier. I picked up some treats and a couple bottles of water and my wife and I sat with the girls at a table on the Boardwalk and talked for a bit. About our day. About our night. About our friends and how good it was to see them.
It finally started cooling off a bit. There was a gentle wind blowing on the Boardwalk. Its uncanny how the slightest breeze at the end of the night is such a welcome relief.
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