God and the Lorax

Last weekend I enjoyed some family time watching the Lorax with my cousins on a blow up screen at the park in Franklin, TN! Dr. Seuss has always been a favorite of mine. He made reading fun with silly “green eggs and ham” rhymes for kids like me who would rather do anything than sit down and read a book. He brought encouraging words at the ends of chapters in our own lives with “oh the places you will go” to send us off into the big world of college, and he continues to inspire me today!

The story of the Lorax has many messages meant to influence children in positive ways, however there were a few things I couldn’t help but relate to myself…

The Once-ler was a man on a mission to seek purpose for his life. When he finds opportunity to make his name famous through his new invention he quickly becomes greedy and self-centered. The more famous he becomes and the more money he makes the more harm he does unknowingly to himself and others. He sang “how bad can I be? I’m just following my destiny. How bad can I be, I’m just doing what comes naturally.” And he continued to think of himself which leads him to breaking promises and eventually cutting down the last truffula tree for his fluffy thneeds driving out all the creatures in the forest from their homes. The Lorax who speaks for the trees warned him “A tree falls the way it leans. Be careful which way you lean” but it was too late. The Once-ler saw the Lorax as an insignificant creature standing in the way of his plans, so he asked the Lorax to show him his power, how he can disappear into the sky with a bolt of lightning and crash of thunder to prove that his warnings are of any value to him. But the Lorax said “It doesn’t work that way” and sadly walked away leaving the Once-ler behind to his own eventual destruction of self and others. The Once-ler had his moment of fame then led himself to a lonely life of regret but was given a chance to make things right. A young boy with a big heart came along and the Once-ler was able to motivate him to do something about the mess he made of things. He tells the boy “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better—it’s not.”

I could go so many ways with this so bare with me as I try to keep my thoughts going in one direction!

One, praise God that we have a guardian who speaks for us when we are in danger of destruction. He takes care of us and protects us even when the storms come and even when we are driven out of a familiar and comfortable place.

Two, God gives us his spirit and word to warn us when we are on the verge of hurting ourselves and others around us. However we must understand that He is not going to show up like a flash of lightening. We must have faith in the one who speaks for us and listen to his warnings that are for our good and the good of others! Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (John 20:29).

Three, we all have an inward desire to be successful. This is the way we were created, however we so often misinterpret this drive within us as a means of making ourselves famous instead of living our lives in a way to make the name of Jesus famous. Of course we think “How bad can it be? I’m just doing what comes naturally.” Well yes you are because we are all born sinners, drawn to do what is harmful for ourselves and others all because of the fall (Genesis 3), which is why we are in such great need of the one who speaks for us even in our sin. The one who DIED for us so that even though we will struggle until our last breath with this thing called sin we can rest assured that we will live in eternity with our creator when we trust our lives in his hands and live our lives following hard after him! This means trusting that his words and warnings are true and for our good and his glory! “A tree falls in the way it leans, so be careful which way you lean!” God is not an insignificant being standing in the way of our plans. He wants what is best for us and what is best for us will bring him most glory which is what we and everything on earth were created to do!

Finally, we have been given a chance to make things right! “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better—it’s not!” We are given a chance to turn from our selfish ways and step out in faith to lose our lives for the sake of finding it in Jesus! We have a chance to let go and let God lead us into paths of righteousness that will bless us and those around us, not harm them. We are given a chance to find true joy by being a part of furthering God’s Kingdom while we still HAVE a chance to do so here on this earth. I still have a chance to find confidence in who I am in Christ and make sense of the gifts he has given me to make much of him during this short life I have been given. I still have a chance to say no to my natural sinful desires and say yes to the one who speaks for me when I am tempted.

What do you still have a chance for? Salvation? Forgiveness? True intimacy with the One who never leaves us and gives unfailing love to us daily? A chance to make things right with someone before the sun goes down on your anger? A chance to use your gifts in ways to help others?

Listen to His call because He is calling us all, put others before yourself and trust in Him! So thankful the God of all creation speaks for us when the world tries to chop us down!