2017 was the year of Disneyland. After a family meeting and an agreement to forgo all birthday and Christmas presents that year, we bought annual passes to the happiest place on earth.
Though Disneyland truly is my happy place and has been since my childhood, there were times throughout the year when I found myself thinking, “I’ve seen all there is to see.” Knowing–with Disneyland’s attention to detail–this couldn’t possibly be true, I began the “find something new” game. Everyday looking, with childlike wonder, for something I’d never noticed before.
Last Saturday, after strapping a walking boot onto my poor damaged foot, we decided to check out the Arizona Renaissance Festival. I’ve always been curious about the festival and with a spring break in desperate need of repair, I figured it was as good a time as any.
Disappointment–for several reasons that I won’t dwell on now–set in shortly after entering the gates and though I tried to remind myself of my new motto, “things don’t have to turn out perfectly to make it worth turning out”, it wasn’t until I sat down to watch a bell show that my heart began to change.
With the same childlike wonder I had summoned in Disneyland I felt a smile rise up and fill my whole body. “I’ve never seen a birdman play a giant bell instrument before.” I reminded myself.
My smile remained the entire performance as I not only pondered the wonder of this beautiful world I live in but also my ability to perceive it in any way I choose. I can choose as easily as the flip of a switch to see the secret pockets of magic that swirl all around me or I can stay in a place of, “I’ve seen all there is to see”. Knowing the latter–with my Father in Heaven’s attention to detail–couldn’t possibly be true.
