Roller Coaster Challenge Day 9

Roller Coaster Challenge Day 9 - A roller coaster that you used to love but now hate

Corkscrew, Valley Fair

First off hate is a strong word. I do not HATE this ride; however, no other roller coaster has taken such a meteoric fall in how I perceive it.

When I first rode Corkscrew in 2002, I was 14, and it was only the second upside-down roller coaster I had ever ridden. It was a smooth ride, had a decent drop, nice loop, good airtime hill, two corkscrews, and an excellent helix to close the ride. I rode it countless times with my brother including a run of 3 or 4 consecutive rides.

The next time I rode was in 2009, but it just wasn't the same. It seemed short, rough, and torpid compared to what I remembered. Granted, I was 21 instead of 14 and my 6’ 3’’ frame was smashed into the small Arrow seats instead of comfortably fitting in them. The fact that this ride has not aged well, and that I had ridden countless top-rated steel rollers since 2002 did not help either. Nonetheless, Valleyfair's Corkscrew is an improvement over the Cedar Point version, and needs to be ridden by all Valleyfair guests.

Psalm 71: 17-20

Nobody wants to think about aging (unless you are on the cusp of your first driver’s license). Usually we just are reminded of the frailties of the body, how we’ll become weakened or in pain and eventually die. Perhaps we are looking the wrong direction. The Psalmist looks back, remembering the faithfulness with which God taught him from his youth.

We must age well – still declaring His wondrous deeds and declaring God’s strength to the next generation.

Old age brings troubles and distresses, but there’s not excuse for our faith not to be as alive and vibrant as it was when we first.

Satan would like nothing more than to tempt us to become crusty old curmudgeons, finding fault with everything and everyone as we grow older. With the Holy Spirit’s help, that does not have to happen.  Stay faithful by remembering His faithfulness. Stay forgiving by remembering His forgiveness. Stay cheerful by remembering His Joy. We are never too old to serve our Lord by displaying the Fruit of His Holy Spirit in our lives.