E was so excited to go to the Jedi Training at Disneyland. In the Jedi Training they have a show where they ask for children to volunteer to be trained as a Jedi and then get the opportunity to fight one of the two sithlords that have gone to the "Dark Side". We had tried to get E to do it at previous visits. But, he was always too scared after seeing Darth Maul and Darth Vader. This time E had worked up the courage and told us he was going to do it. We had seen the show a few times before. So, we knew to arrive early so we could be in the front row when they asked for volunteers. We even rehearsed with E jumping up and down and shouting so that he would be noticed by the Jedi Master. The time was almost upon us. So, we prepped E to jump and shout and were ready with video and still camera in hand. The Jedi Master proceeded to pick kids to come up on the stage for the training. "The kid with the blue hat - Please step forward." "The young lady with the Minnie Mouse shirt - Please step forward." "The young man with the sign that says Jedi Master pick me - please step forward." He proceeded to pick about 20 child volunteers. The entire time E is jumping up and down, yelling, "Pick me, Pick me!" "Young man with the Donald Duck hat - Please step forward." And then, the Jedi Master was done. E was still next to us in the audience. He was devastated. I mean heart broken. Although E has his moments, he is not typically the type to be overly dramatic when he does not get what he wants. But, this day he fully expected that he was going to be one of the twenty children up on that stage training to defeat Darth Vader. He was not. And he had the uncontrollable sobbing to prove it. It was not an angry cry. But, a cry of sincere disappointment. So, we did our best to comfort him and worked to be engaged in watching the rest of the show and training of the other young Jedi's. The show ended and as we got up to leave a man behind us gave us a sign that read "Pick Me Jedi Master" and told us his son gets picked every time. We thanked him and proceeded to make our way through the crowd. Our plan was actually to head home after the Jedi Training. But, that plan made the assumption that E actually participated in the Jedi training. Nonetheless, we did not think that E would want to go through that same trauma again. So, we started our way toward the exit. To be honest, I think I was almost as devastated as E. There is nothing like seeing your four year old son so disappointed. I wanted to him to get picked so bad also. I did not want to push him too hard to try again. But, I told him if he wanted to, we would try. E said, "Dad, if you want me to, I will." I was actually very surprised he chose to try again. He definitely had to work up some courage on his part. I was proud of him. So, I said, "Yeah, let's try again." It was at least another hour until the next show. We made our way around the park. But, our minds were really focused the entire time on how we could get E picked. We got there early again. This time we had the sign "Pick Me Jedi Master" in hand, hoping this would help E to get noticed. I even had E wear my green A's hat just so the Jedi Master would have something else distinct to call out if he picked him. The time was approaching again. This time we coached E to yell even louder and to jump even higher and this time to wave that sign "Pick Me Jedi Master" as hard as you can. And E did. And this time he was picked.But, he was not only picked. He was placed on the center stage right next to the Jedi Master who runs the entire show/training. And, as you will see in this video link, he even had the opportunity to have some fun interaction with him. It was awesome! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xODNp4I0rLk
In a matter of two hours, E went from utter devastation to living in a Star Wars dream world. Don't we wish real life worked like that?
Are you on the side of utter devastation?
Did things not go as you had planned?
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"
It is all about perspective. In hindsight, E is grateful he got to go the second time.
What is it that you are experiencing that you have not seen the happy ending to yet?
Could it be that there is something better, something greater than what you have imagined.
Could it be that the next chapter of this story is what you have been hoping and praying for.
If you trust Him - Then, I say yes.
