Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Space Mountain is a roller coaster in the dark. The one time I rode it, it malfunctioned, and the lights came on for repair. What I remember was looking up and seeing a cacophony of metal track, twisted and coiled back upon itself in a circuitous, up and down, zig-zagging, roundabout “mess.”
Enlightenment might be a glimpse of the complex network of life, a flash of understanding, without really knowing exactly how the track is laid out; but that it is thoughtfully designed to be a life-changing thrill ride to “nowhere.” The point is to simply ride the ride.
Life is a controlled environment made to appear perplexing with the lights off. Death is but another part of the wild ride. Realizing you can’t die on Space Mountain (metaphysically speaking) frees you to enjoy it more. Your head whips around in the divorce. You’re shocked to learn someone close to you is dead. You’re suddenly without money, faced with an illness, or having to clean up after a hurricane. Roll with it.
You saw the circuitous “mess” when the lights came on, but life is no less surprising. Chaos is built in! The passenger, the design, and The Designer are evil geniuses conspiring. Genius means demon. Space Mountain is a demon_stration of intelligent design. The thrill brings you back to the station, and there you will see a line of souls waiting to board the ride of their lives. Don’t forget to say “weeeeeeee” or “boohoo” at times. You don’t need to white-knuckle, you’re strapped in. Throw your hands up in the air. You still have to go on the ride – but you can let go. Even when and how you die is built in. It’s OK. The lights come on, but that doesn’t mean you know every twist and turn. It means you understand it’s a controlled “accident.”