Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. ~ James 1:17 (ESV)
We had cashed in our coupons and received our $10 lift tickets to tube at theCopperMountaintubing hill. We were in the 5pm grouping.
The course is carefully groomed, maintained and configured. In fact, we were told that during the Christmas season the hill accommodated 120 sliders an hour. The moving walkway facilitates a great rhythm and the well trained staff were prepared for the significant challenge of crowd management.
On Tuesday evening, however, we were told that for the next sixty minutes we would be the only tubers on the hill. This transformed an enjoyable experience into an unforgettable one.
We traded introductions with workers that would typically be over their heads in activity. Dale, the seasoned tubing veteran that managed the top of the hill, greeted us with excitement and anticipation. It was Valentine’s Day and Dale was determined to show us his full portfolio of tubing variations. Each time we made it to the top of the hill he would propose another option for attacking the hill. Every time he had a gleam in his eye. Midway through our hour he invited five of his workers to join us at the top of the hill. We all locked hands and with a giant push and spin Dale sent us cascading down hill number three. “High fives” concluded this congregational activity.
As we neared the end of our time on the hill Dale informed me that it typically would cost $1,000 to reserve the hill for an hour. We had paid 2% of that cost.
It was a spontaneous explosion of joy, laughter, speed, and spinning. Dusk and snowflakes fell together and as they did I sensed the gracious hand of a loving Father who transformed enjoyable into unforgettable. It was magical. So much so that just before our last trip down the hill Dale, our tubing captain, hugged each of us goodbye. Really.
In that moment we were 50 something, on our way to feeling and acting like teenagers… but with the joy and wonder and security of true love. It was a good gift.
Insignificant in a world with a growing pyramid of problems, but glorious in it’s unscripted delight. Our God is a gift-giver. Sometimes the gifts come wrapped in pain and tears, sometimes they are delivered through a cloud of uncertainty, sometimes in the majesty of order and predictability, but on Tuesday night at 5pm they came in uncluttered delight.
From the hand of our Father.
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