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            Not long ago, I overheard a gentleman laughing about a trip he had just taken with his son.  The little boy was four years old.  They had traveled all morning to get to Opryland from Johnson City.

            By the time they arrived, it was already 2:00 p.m.  He knew that they would only get to spend a few hours at the park.  When he saw the admission prices, he decided that it would cost too much for the few hours they might spend in the park.  So he decided to take his little boy into the area next to the park where all of the museums are.  They walked through the museums, got an ice cream cone, petted one of the security guard’s horses then left town.  He told the little boy that they had been to Opryland.

            He said that his son would never know the difference...but someday he will.  He’ll realize that by the “letter of the law” they did go to Opryland.  However, he couldn’t honestly say he had been to Opryland.  He had been on the premises but never experienced the joy of the amusement park.

Mt. Juliet Church of Christ Messenger, 10-10-93