Last week, my cousin Jake and I visited Six Flags Great Adventure, a world-renowned amusement park in Jackson, New Jersey known for its tall, fast and wild roller coasters. Kingda Ka represents its tallest, fastest and wildest coaster. It reaches 456 feet high, and hits speeds up to 128 miles per hour. Visitors come from near and far to experience this epic 45-second ride.
Over the years, Kingda Ka has become infamous for constant service outages and breaking down often. Some days this coaster remains available for riders from opening hours until closing. Some days this coaster remains closed entirely. Some days this coaster goes from open to closed in unpredictable sequences. Thus, visitors at Six Flags have no guarantee of riding Kingda Ka on any given day or time. Recent experience waiting on line for Kingda Ka reminded this author about one of Rosh Hashannah’s most important lessons.
At 3:30 p.m., Jake and I hopped on line for Kingda Ka. Several dozen fellow park guests waited ahead of us. Waiting on line at amusement parks offers dead time for schmoozing and bonding among siblings, friends and cousins. On this line, Jake and I schmoozed about his upcoming freshman year of college. “Don’t slack, and study hard,” represented Jake’s motto for success for his first semester.
After waiting for 30 minutes, a memorable announcement launched from the park’s loudspeaker, “Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. At this time, Kingda Ka is experiencing some technical difficulties. We do not know how long it will take to be repaired. Feel free to stay on line, or use the exit and enjoy the rest of your day.” This announcement prompted everyone on line to ponder one question: Should I wait it out for Kingda Ka’s possible repair or move on to another park attraction?
Uncertainty about what decision to make spread through the line like wildfire. The unpredictable nature of uncertain situations leads humans to ponder endless possibilities and become overwhelmed. Three possible outcomes for this uncertain situation included: The ride gets fixed soon, may get fixed after a while, or may not get fixed at all. Psychological research has indicated many people dread and avoid events or situations filled with uncertainty. Hence, immediately following the announcement about technical difficulties, several families, adults and adolescents exited the line.
Two minutes later, Kingda Ka resumed working. Comments like “Why did those people give up so fast? Good thing we stuck it out” sounded from people on line. However, five minutes after Kingda Ka’s service resumed, another sound from the loudspeaker was made: “Ladies and gentlemen, Kingda Ka has been experiencing some technical difficulties. We do not know how long it will take to be fixed. Feel free to remain on line, or exit and enjoy the rest of your day at Six Flags Great Adventure.”
Most people on line heard this announcement and thought, It’ll be fixed in no time. Thirty minutes passed by, and Kingda Ka continued to be out of service. At this point, everyone’s phones remained inside various lockers outside the ride. Waiting on line without a phone led various line-waiters to perform interesting activities. Some people engaged in a game of slaps with their friends. Another guy yanked off giant branches from a nearby tree and used their bottoms to play tic-tac-toe on the floor.
Thirty-five minutes later, patience among the line-waiters started to vanish. Several people ventured over to Six Flags employees dressed in dark blue vests and requested to know Kingda Ka’s repair status. No direct or clear answers were given for each request. Families and couples continued to exit the line. Upon observing others fleeing, I suggested to Jake that we leave.
Jake shook his head and said, “We gotta wait it out.”
In response I explained to Jake the sunk-cost fallacy. This economic principle suggests that once people sink money or time into something, they do not want to abandon it. However, continuing to engage in a given activity or investment has no guarantee of success and may lead to negative ramifications and can even prompt one to lose more money and/or time.
Two minutes later, a final announcement sounded from the loudspeaker. “Ladies and gentlemen, Kingda Ka is back running.” Cheers and claps sounded across the roller coaster line. This author exchanged smiles with a man behind him. The man had informed Jake and me that he’d been to Six Flags five times but had never gotten on Kingda Ka because it was always broken. Yet, he came back today, hoping it would be up and running. Following my ride, I pressed open my seatbelt and locked eyes with my new pal. “Today is the day. Now is your time.”
Rosh Hashanah falls out next month. A time known by our rabbis to be more opportune for prayer than any other time of year. A time everyone begs Hashem to grant one mega wish for the upcoming year. This wish may relate to getting a new job, becoming pregnant, or finding your shidduch. Even though months, years or decades may have passed without that wish being fulfilled, keep going on first dates, keep seeking fertility treatments, keep going on job interviews. Keep praying to Hashem for your wish to be granted. The man behind me on line visited Six Flags, uncertain whether Kingda Ka would be open. He remained on line, uncertain whether Kingda Ka would be fixed. He remained faithful during uncertain times and finally experienced Kingda Ka.
In the face of uncertainty, continue to believe good outcomes lie ahead. This is your year.
To quote David HaMelech: “Although we may plant with tears, we will one day reap with joy.”
To quote YU Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Yitzchak Cohen: “There is only one thing in Judaism you learn about but don’t practice. That is giving up hope. You can learn about it, but cannot practice it.”
