Hangin’ Out @ Pooh Bear’s Corner

On the winding road from Queanbeyan, through Bungendore and Braidwood to the coast, as you descend Clyde Mountain, one the left is a grotto, signposted as “Pooh Bear’s Corner”.

Driving with two primary-aged children to the coast was actively punctuated with the traditional chorus of “Are we there yet?”, especially on the winding section of the road. Pooh’s Corner provided light relief and a marker for our journey being nearly complete.

What engaged us was the simple, generous genius of making an onerous journey more enjoyable, by touching both children and those who had memories of being children and loving the tales of Christopher Robin and his friends.

When I read a story from our shared childhood in worship, people’s faces – of every age – come alight. Whether it’s a piece from the Narnia series, or a Peanuts image, or Eeyore saying “We can’t all and some of us don’t. That’s all there is to it.”, there is something that reminds us of the joy of being invited into those stories, which are now valued memories.

When Jesus tells us that the kingdom of God needs to be received – and entered – as a little child, we need little reminding about what that means. For those who want to see what Jesus is talking about, have a look at these Operation Christmas Child videos [https://www.samaritanspurse.org.au/what-we-do/christian-ministry-projects/operation-christmas-child/videos/]
Some might read innocence and simplicity as dumbing down our faith, and it is entirely not that.

It is the joy of receiving a gift for the gift’s sake and not looking for the strings we assume are attached. It’s the wonder of feeling valued, special, simply because someone says you are, or shows you. You expect there to be a problem, and there is none.

You are loved, you are valued.

Jesus loves us, died and was raised for us and intends to save us.

There must be more to the equation. We must have to perform, or recite, or declare, for Jesus to act this way. We must have to pay some money, or offer some service, for Jesus to love like this.

My hands and heart are too small to hold a gift like this – so it can’t be true. There must be something hidden in the wrapping. I know everything – and everyone – has a price.

Jesus never considers price, he only considers our value.

Just stop. Breathe. Remember your pleasure and wonder with Piglet and Pooh, with Snoopy and Linus, with Lucy’s first encounter with Aslan.

And receive this gift – and offer it with all the joy with which it is first and always offered to you.