Lessons from Disneyland: the extravagant love of God

God and Mickey Mouse? Yup. We’re going there… 

Last month, I explored how the gathered Church can be good medicine for everyone, having read The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by M.D. Bessel van der Kolk. I suggested that the Church has a particular good to offer those who have experienced both big and little 'T' trauma - which is sadly so commonplace in our broken world and fractured relationships. 

This month, I want to lead us to a place where we can receive abundant joy, happiness and a welcome to a different kind of relationship. The question is, am I talking of being a Christian, or going to Disney World? Or both?

I wonder if our need to be known and loved is part of the reason why more than 58 million people flock to ‘the happiest place on earth’ each year, paying thousands for the privilege. We are in a society where nearly 50% of children aged 16 no longer live with their biological parents. That’s a lot of people experiencing broken relationships before they have even left home. Is there anyone we can truly trust to love us and never let us down? We’re in a sorry state with our relationships with others and, from the statistics I need not quote on mental health, with ourselves too.

So in an ever increasingly secular society, I believe that in our desire to be known and loved, many are scratching at this itch when they visit the Disney Parks. A whacky proposition, I grant you. But for those who haven’t waited in a long queue on a sticky day to meet The Mouse himself (or another such joy-bringing character) I want to explore this phenomenon - through a Biblical lens.

Extravagant welcome

This idea calls to our souls: that there could be a real utopia - on earth now - and we could get a ticket. Regardless of whether we see ourselves as a total scumbag or Mother Teresa herself, Mr Michael Mouse will recognise us and throw his arms around us like an old friend as he welcomes us into his paradise.

Do we believe that God’s love for us is more extravagant - embarrassingly dramatic even - than a meet-and-greet with a character who is 24-karat-stoked to meet little-old-us? 

Do we feel like God is like the beloved character who poses for photos with us or our children, blows us kisses and dances with delight at having met us, or more like the guard checking tickets at the gate?

We know in theory that it’s not on our own moral record that we get through the gates to the heavenly city… but God being pleased to see us? Delighting in us? Singing over us? Really?

I defer to the many chapters of Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortland that I have inhaled over the last few years, repeatedly seeking to remind my stubborn heart that I really am loved as much as Jesus is now. I have a joyful welcome awaiting me that won’t just wipe away every tear by handing me a few pieces of loo roll to dry my face, but will one day express joy, delight and singing - if you take Zephaniah 3:17 literally - at my coming home. 

Unconditional welcome

There is the question of ‘but isn’t Disney quite pricey?’. We all know The Mouse needs his coin, but I’m glad you asked as it also leads to another deeply theological point. And I’m only half joking.

When you’re ‘in the magic’ and experiencing unconditional love being poured into your emotional bucket from Mickey and Minnie et al, it feels free. In reality, you’re just receiving what you’ve paid for; exchanging hours at your workplace to earn your spot in the Disney queue… maybe that’s why we struggle to functionally believe that Jesus has already totally and completely paid for our access. There is no queue. We’re in. Yes, our ticket was anything but cheap… though it wasn’t paid by us, but rather by Jesus in His death on the cross.

God is the true source of all life’s pleasures. C S Lewis described pleasures as sunbeams, so that in our mind we can run up the sunbeam to the sun and worship God as the giver of pleasure. Perhaps we could take this idea and be reminded of our heavenly home as we look at Cinderella Castle. Let us meet The Mice and be reminded of the love and welcome we have today if we choose relationship with God. The ‘happiest place on earth’ is delightful, but a mere shadow of our glorious eternity with our loving heavenly Father - and we’ll ‘see ya real soon’!