Undeterred by this fact he suggested that we should go on 'Space Mountain' which was a roller coaster in the dark. I think he tried to persuade me that would be less scary! After queuing for nearly an hour we were the next to get on the ride when it broke down. I was ready to do a runner but Bob said we should stay and see what happened next. What did happen was that the engineers went into the darkness and after some time came out again. 'They've fixed it!' Bob said. I wasn't convinced and certainly didn't want to be the first to try their handiwork. But as it happened the engineers then got into the first carriage and disappeared into the darkness to check the ride for themselves. When they came out the other end a few minutes later everybody cheered with me cheering one of the loudest. Then I was left with little choice but to get in and as the bar came down Bob said 'I can't believe I've actually got you in this...' His last words were lost as we shot off at high speed - up and down, in and out, through darkness, wind tunnels and flashing lights. It was a nightmare! But I survived and came out the other side.

More to the point, it taught me a very important lesson about the incarnation and helped me in trying to explain what is meant by Christ going through suffering and death to the resurrection so that he can be with us on our journey. In fact, to take the analogy to that point, the engineers would have had to climb in the carriage with me because that is what Christ has done for us. As Jesus says in John's Gospel, 'In my Father's mansion there are many rooms; if there were not I would have told you so. I go now to prepare a place for you and then I will come back to take you with me... I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.' This is what we celebrate during Eastertide and this is what we should try and rely on in the dark times of life and when we face death, our own death or the death of someone we love. So the next time you have to do something that scares you, remember that you are not alone and never trust a priest and a nun in Disneyland!