CHOOSING NOT TO DO NOTHING

CHOOSING NOT TO DO NOTHING

I know…it’s a double negative and one might suppose I would know better.  But it is what it is! J  In a few hours, Belinda and I will be on my way to the world famous Bronx Zoo in New York.  Since it’s a trip that Belinda and I have pre-planned to engage with three local grandchildren (Dylan, Sydney and Savannah) during spring break, I thought it might be appropriate to share a short story with you – a children’s story at that.  Oh well...here we go.

Winnie-the Pooh is one of the most beloved children’s characters of all time.  Of course, Pooh is the bear who belongs to Christopher Robin.  At the end of the one of the Winnie-The-Pooh stories we learn that Christopher Robin is soon headed for school.  Here’s how the story goes.

Now there comes a time in everyone’s life when toys and games are replaced by pencils and books.  You see Christopher Robin was going away to school.  Nobody in the forest knew exactly why or where he was going, all they knew was that it had something to do with twice times and ABCs and places like Brazil, and such.

“Pooh, what do you like doing best in the world?” asked Christopher Robin.

“What I like best is me coming to visit you and saying, How about a smackerel of honey?”

“I like doing that too, but what I like doing best is Nothing.”

“How do you do Nothing?” Winnie wondered.

“Well, it’s when grown-ups ask ‘What are you going to do?’  And you say ‘Nothing’.  And then you go and do it.”

“I like that, let’s do it all the time.”

“You know something Pooh, I’m not going to do just Nothing anymore.”

“You mean never again?” wondered Pooh.

“Well, not so much,” decided Christopher Robin.

It’s a cute children’s story, and I am most appreciative that you have so generously allowed for my moment of elementary folly.  However, there is a serious lesson embedded in Winnie-The-Pooh’s childlike ‘theology.’ 

Occasionally in life, you and I are sorely tempted to slide into pure passivity and simply do NOTHING.  Our engines might have been stalled by discouragement, by doubt, by criticism, or by our imaginary fears of unseen and unknown quantities.  I have learned that doing something is a far more productive choice than its polar opposite.  Of course, we must be cautious enough and wise enough to choose a personal path that aligns with the divine will.

Now hear this, winner-believer!  Never ever surrender to fear.  You can and you will DO SOMETHING because GOD is on your side.  One more thing.  It’s always too soon to quit because You SIMPly cannot AND WILL NOT lose – so get off the sidelines and get into the game!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!