A few years ago our family was at a park on PEI called "Sandspit." There are all sorts of rides and games there including a ferris wheel, "Scrambler," "Tilt-a-Whirl," "Para-Trooper," bumper boats, min-golf, and a small roller coaster called the "Cyclone." Mark was 6 or 7 at the time, and was fascinated by the roller coaster. In fact, that was the main reason we were there. He wanted to try it.

It was not a big coaster, perhaps a 60 or 70 ft drop, but we were worried he might get scared and regret his decision to ride. Jan doesn't enjoy these kinds of rides, so I went with Mark. After waiting in line on the hot summer day, we finally stepped into our car and were buckled in. We lurched ahead and immediately started our climb. Up we went, with each click of the anti-roll mechanism marking our progress to the top. We crested , took a dip and then a quick turn to the right, where we rolled to the big drop. Mark's eyes popped open as he looked over the edge we were about to plummet down. From the ground it didn't look this steep. He didn't look like he was having fun any more.

As we started our drop, I pulled him a little closer, tipped my head back a little, and started laughing as loudly as I could. The message I wanted Mark to understand was, "This isn't so bad. Look, if I'm laughing, then you can too. Its nothing to be afraid of." I repeated this on every drop and turn. Finally, we stopped at the end and stepped out of the ride. I asked Mark, "So what do you want to do?" I really didn't know how he would respond. Was it too much? Would it ruin his experience?

I shouldn't have worried. The words had hardly departed my mouth when he started running to get into line again.

The prophet Isaiah foretold the birth of Jesus. His words were repeated to Joseph by the angel "...they will call him Immanuel, which means God With Us." (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23 NIV)

Isaiah was a bad news, good news kind of prophet. The prosperity the people knew was going to end and they would be taken into exile. That was the bad news. The good news was that God would send someone to rescue them, and his name meant, "God With Us."

Jesus, of course, was exactly this - God With Us. He was God in the flesh, fully human, but also fully God. I don't understand exactly how that can be, but I know its true. God stepped into our world to save us.

When I think of the fact that Jesus was "God With Us," I think of our experience on the Cyclone that day. Just as I pulled Mark close to me to show him he did not need to be afraid, God pulls us in tight as we go through the ups and downs of life. We have nothing to fear because of Immanuel, "God With Us."

Hope this helps. Be OnFire,

Troy

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Visit Sandspit park at www.sandspit.com

Dec. 11, 2006.