Roller Coaster Challenge Day 13

Roller Coaster Challenge Day 13: Name a Rollercoaster that took you by surprise.

Revenge of the Mummy, Universal Studios Florida

Do NOT read this if you intend to ride this ride soon and haven't been on it yet. I'm going to blow the lid off the surprise.

When I first rode this Revenge of the Mummy, I knew basically two things about this ride: It was a small indoor roller coaster, and it had an electromagnetic launch system. I figured it would be some quasi-lame dark ride/roller coaster with lots of elaborate theming and few thrills. I was right about all those things. However, I was wrong in that I didn't expect MY MIND TO BE BLOWN! I remember basically nothing about this ride except the surprise.

Traveling along (relatively slowly) around this dark building, my car comes to a stop...right in front of very large, closed double doors. All too cliche. Obviously the doors are going to open, and we are going to finish the closing portion of the ride. I was sure of this, I had seen it before.

All of sudden we move quickly down a hill. BACKWARDS!!!! I did not see it coming AT ALL! I wasn't sure a full circuit coaster was even CAPABLE of such a thing back in 2005. Certainly, this in only time I was ever stunned quite like this on a ride.

We live in an era where one can see entire track layouts on the internet before visiting a park and even "ride" because someone recorded video while riding a coaster. Considering all the research I do, and that I knew nothing of this surprise: WELL DONE, UNIVERSAL!  You gave me the ultimate surprise on a ride that I am certain will never be replicated or duplicated.

Psalm 33:12  “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He chose for his inheritance.”

Though Abraham (in Genesis) faithfully believed and followed God, I think he was surprised by God’s choosing Him to be the Patriarch of the Chosen People. And when we look at ourselves as Christians and know that we are also chosen before the foundations of the earth (Rom. 8:33, Col. 3:12), we are surprised!  I say, “Oh, Lord, You know how weak, willful, and sinful I am. Yet you have chosen to love me and sacrificed Your Son so that I may have access to the Heavens, freedom from the weight of my sin, and a place in Glory.”  I am surprised by the joy (C.S. Lewis) that surrendering to You brings in my life.