Magical Moments

Disney World specializes in magical moments. It's a motto for the company and is encouraged, even taught, to its employees (called "the cast"). The cast is told to make the visits of their guests memoriable and to do whatever it takes to make it so. If a child drops an ice cream, run over with a new one. If a person has food allergies, create an entire delicious meal they can eat without worries. If a person has a disability, provide whatever comforts they need so they can participate in any possible attraction. And it's worked for the company. People come back year after year paying top dollar (Disney is not cheap) to visit. But you leave that place with a sunny disposition, smiles and a cheerful heart. And many a parent of children with special needs has said Disney is the only place they can truly be "on vacation."

My daughter, who is currently a member of the Disney cast through its college program, told me about the mandate for magical moments. I got to see it in action first-hand while on a visit to see her recently. Ayla told me you could ask any restaurant for a tall glass of ice water and they'd hand it over for free. However, the streetside stands don't have the same policy. Only soft drinks and bottled water are offered there. I didn't know this at the time and went up to ask for a glass of water at one of these stands. The gal behind the counter said, "I can't offer that at this stand, but here (she handed me two cold bottles of water) ... have a magical day." Another time while getting two T-shirt designed as gifts, I noticed the wait time was such that would cut into precious and highly needed sleep time before my long drive home. I said to the cast member at the cash register ... "I need you to make a magical moment happen for me here. Is there anything you can do to speed this wait time up." I had my T-shirts in half the time. And I watched as my daughter congratulated every newly married couple wearing "Just Married" buttons or couples wearing "Happy Anniversary" buttons, wished a Happy Birthday to those celebrating, and ask countless children if they were having a good time. It was fun for me to watch.

Now imagine a world outside of Disney where this was the motto. You know, where people love without expecting anything in return. Where people do things to make others' lives easier. Where people genuinely care if you are celebrating something important in your life. A world where people followed, say, Leviticus 19:18: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," what Jesus called the second greatest commandment. It would be Heaven, wouldn't it?

This expression of agape (a Greek term for "unconditional love" expecting nothing in return) is not a difficult thing to do. In actually, it's quite fun! And while bringing joy to the one the love is given, will actually bring you even more joy.

Make a day of it. Take a day where your goal is, not to make a magical moment, but to make agape moments. The stories you will have to share later with others will be priceless.

We joked often while walking around Disney World that we were having a "Hap, hap, happy day" or even "It's another magical day at Disney" because of the efforts made to see to it we did.

I pray your days are hap, hap, happy and filled with moments of unconditional love. I believe that is what God intended for us from the very beginning. And all the instruction we need to accomplish this, after our failure in disobeying Him as early as the Garden of Eden, is written in Scripture. First Corinthians 13 is filled with guidance on how to love. So does 1 John 3 and 4. Let's give it a whirl, shall we?

It's those little glimpses into Heaven that give us just the encouragement we need while living in this world ... the wonderful world of our Almighty, Loving, Creator God.