I
spent the weekend in the Great Smoky Mountains of TN. I’ve been to Gatlinburg
many times, so it was nothing new to me. I didn’t expect any magical moment,
but life continues to surprise me.
We
stayed in a cozy cabin and had a relaxing trip to get away from the business of
everyday life. The first night we toured the actual downtown part of Gatlinburg
and it was extremely fun! We bought candy apples, rode a sky lift, and shopped
around. The second day we spent at Dollywood. If you don’t know, Dollywood is a theme park
owned by the entertainer Dolly Parton and Herschend Family Entertainment. It is
a beautiful park located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and it
is a top destination for family vacations in Tennessee.
Our
Dollywood trip was definitely not as expected. As soon as our tram made it to
the entrance of the park, it started raining cats and dogs outside. Naturally,
we ran to the emporium store and bought a poncho (along with everyone else I
might add. The park had to have made over $1000 in poncho sales. Lol.) We did
the best we could with the rain and ended up having a fun-filled day of riding
rides with no lines which is always a plus.
The
one attraction that really caught my eye was one of the park’s newest rides,
Wild Eagle. The Wild Eagle doesn’t follow the theme for most roller coasters. As
you enter into the line for the ride, there is a large plaque of Isaiah 40:31.
Dolly
Parton or Herschend Family Entertainment or someone used this verse as
inspiration for the ride. I was shocked that a huge park like Dollywood would
take the risk of incorporating such a biblical element into the new ride.
Dollywood does not conform to the patterns of most theme parks around the
world. “Do not conform to the pattern of
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be
able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect
will.” (Romans 12:2) I could feel the Christian environment all around the
park. My whole family felt it. God is clearly rooted in the theme park of
Dollywood.
This
got me thinking… what is my life rooted in? Can people see and feel the under
rooting elements in my life? Am I conforming to the patterns of this world? I
challenge you today to take a hard look at your life (as I did also) and ask
yourself “what is my life rooted in?” If you realize your life is rooted in
something that you are not proud of, use this time to make a change. It’s never
too late to trust in the Lord and start rooting your life in Christ! "Blessed is the man who trusts in the
Lord, whose hope is the Lord. He is like a tree planted beside waters, that
stretches out its roots to the stream. It fears not the heat when it comes, its
leaves stay green. In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears
fruit." (Jer. 17:7-9)
Living
in a sin filled world makes being rooted in Christ complicated. Fortunately
enough, we have a God who is ready and willing to be the roots in our lives at
any time, as long as we accept and receive him. “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and
established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with
gratitude.” (Colossians 2:6-7)
So
I’ll ask again, where are your roots?
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