I don’t know about you, but I get a lot out of cartoons. In fact, they are true embodiments of the archetypes that guide consciousness in form and function. In toonland, they are palpable; so near the surface. Theologians should spend much more time with cartoons and, just maybe, try their hand at creating some, or maybe weaving together allegory in graphic novel form.
Well, in any event, I find myself thinking about them as we enter the Holiday season. The television is full of the classics that will certainly be played over and over for the rest of the month: A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, and Winnie the Pooh & Christmas Too, and many more.
Today, I am imagining my favorite characters as monks at a Benedictine Abbey advising young novices.
Let’s see, what wisdom might they share?
Winnie the Pooh
Who said, “Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.”
Might say – “When things are a bother just remember there’s honey somewhere nearby. Of course, you might have to walk a ways to find it.”
Tigger:
Who once sang, “The wonderful thing about tiggers / Is tiggers are wonderful things / Their tops are made out of rubber / Their bottoms are made out of springs / They’re bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy fun, fun, fun, fun, fun / But the most wonderful thing about tiggers is I’m the only one / Tiggers are cuddly fellas / Tiggers are awfully sweet / Everyone el-es is jealous / That’s why I repeat and repeat / The wonderful thing about tiggers / Is tiggers are marvellous chaps / They’re loaded with vim and with vigor / They love to leap in your laps / They’re jumpy, bumpy, clumpy, pumpy fun, fun, fun, fun, fun / But the most wonderful thing about tiggers is I’m the only one / I’m the only… ”
Might say – “Praying is what Tigger’s do best. It’s all very easy. There’s no need to rest. Just follow me and, heee, heee, you’ll see. It’s all as simple as one, two, and three. And the best of all is we pray while we trounce. So, off we go, let’s pray, let’s pray, and don’t forget to bounce.”
Christopher Robin:
Who once said: “It means just going along, listening to all the thing’s you can’t hear, and not bothering”
Might say: “If you get bored or aren’t sure, or maybe get totally confused, just go on. It will all mean something some day even if you don’t know what that is.”
Charlie Brown:
Who said: Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, “Where have I gone wrong?” Then a voice says to me, “This is going to take more than one night.”
Might say: “It’s best to learn one step at a time and then, when you think you’ve got it, go back over your steps .”
The Grinch:
Who said: “The nerve of those Whos. Inviting me down there – on such short notice! Even if I wanted to go my schedule wouldn’t allow it. 4:00, wallow in self pity; 4:30, stare into the abyss; 5:00, solve world hunger, tell no one; 5:30, jazzercize; 6:30, dinner with me – I can’t cancel that again; 7:00, wrestle with my self-loathing… I’m booked. Of course, if I bump the loathing to 9, I could still be done in time to lay in bed, stare at the ceiling and slip slowly into madness. But what would I wear? ”
Might say: “Lots to study? Feeling put upon and challenged? How about that pain in you knees after all that praying, poor dear. Oh, and the chanting, and the silent breakfast, and the reading. And, what’s with the thin mattresses. Is it a lot?
Well, get over yourself!”
∞
I intend to enjoy all the old classics and the new ones too this season, and I will come back again to talk theology and spirituality with more of my favorites in the days to come.
For now, Th-Th-Th-Th-Th-Th That’s All Folks!
© Brother Anton and The Harried Mystic, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.
I’m more of a Muppet.. probably Miss Piggy. I got called that for a while at school and oddly, so too did my daughter, though in her case with extra cause as she did martial arts!
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One of my favorite Miss Piggy quotes:” When you are in love with someone you want to be near him all the time, except when you are out buying things and charging them to him.”
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Hmm, I like that one!
Hyyyyy—–yah!!!!!
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