Goofy and Bobby...or Bobby and Goofy--your choice!

When someone says “the happiest place on earth…” what comes to your mind?  I immediately think of Mickey and Minnie, Goofy and Space Mountain–yep, that’s right, Disneyland! Especially since last week Jenelle and I took our three girls to Disneyland as a complete surprise. We woke them up at 6 a.m. on Monday and said, “Get dressed and hop in the van…we’re catching a plane for Disneyland!”  It proved to be a magical week, great weather (in the midst of some “Tacoma-like” rainfall) and our girls will never forget it.

Besides all the rides, Disney characters and decorations two aspects of Disneyland really grabbed my attention: 1) it’s ridiculously clean and 2) everyone is unbelievably nice.  I really did try to look around for garbage on the ground but there always seemed to be a Disney “cast member” (their term for employees–I love it!) cleaning up with a smile.  And you’d think with all those people milling around, strollers crossing paths with wheelchairs and long lines for Splash Mountain that SOMEONE would lose their patience…but not once during five days did I hear a cross word.  Always, “Excuse me” and “No, really, after you”  across the park.   As we left on Friday afternoon for the final time my youngest twin, Elise, began to cry and looked up to me with big eyes saying, “But Daddy, I don’t ever want to leave!”

Coming back to the office and the ministry of Tacoma YFC I wish the stories of real life were the same as found in Disneyland.  As I chatted with staff today I was brought back to the reality of broken families, kids struggling with serious image issues, gang violence and drug abuse.  It would be easy to slide into despair when comparing my hometown with “the happiest place on earth”.  But my heart is lifted in hope when I remember these same staff and our hundreds of volunteers are investing every day in kids lives, bringing joy where sadness has ruled, and simply being there to listen when the days are too tough to handle alone.

It may not be the “happiest place on earth”…but Tacoma/Pierce County is becoming a better place because of God’s people reaching out to the difficult and lost young people. It is good to be home!