Winnie-the-Pooh and the Church

Winnie-the-Pooh is a beloved character created in 1925 by A. A. Milne as a Christmas story commissioned by the London Evening News. Little did he know the impact that story would have over the years. The inspiration for Pooh was a stuffed toy Milne bought for his son Christopher Robin in Harrods Department Store and from a real bear named Winnie, who resided at the London Zoo. 

Much has been made of the various characters that emerged from that seminal tale and the subsequent writings that emerged from it. Milne’s stories have captured young and old for a century. What is it about Winnie-the-Pooh and friends that have made Milne’s tales legendary? Although there are many characters in the stories, we will focus on the main ones. Many have  analyzed the characters  for their “mental disorders” but I see more to it than that. The bottom line is that the characters are so relatable. 

Christopher Robin is the calming human in the stories. He is a carefree child who likes to escape into his own fantasy world and may be schizophrenic. Frankly, I can relate. But, as an adult, his conversations and interactions with his imaginary friends could land him on  a therapist’s couch.

Winnie-the-Pooh is likely OCD with a binge eating disorder. This could account for his obsessive and repetitive behaviors, not to mention his love of honey. On the other hand, Pooh is a thoughtful, insightful character who is more than willing to help his friends.

Tigger, without a doubt, has ADHD. He is excitable, hyperactive, impulsive, and can’t sit still. But he exhibits positive energy and speaks about appreciation and individuality. He is cheerful, outgoing, competitive in a friendly way, and has complete confidence in himself. 

 Piglet is shy, insecure, timid and full of anxiety.He constantly worries and feels vulnerable. But Piglet has a big heart. He could even be called a role model as he often pushes back on his fears to help his friends.

Eeyore is loved by all. But he constantly exhibits gloomy self-despair, even depression. He feels inferior as evidenced by statements such as “thanks for noticing me” or “ No need to bother on my account.” But Eeyore teaches us much about friendship and resilience. He is a loyal friend but lacks self worth.

Not to go into detail, but Rabbit is obsessive, Kanga has social anxiety. The wise Owl is a bit narcissist – arrogant with a high opinion of himself.

How many times did you see yourself or a close loved one in that listing of “character disorders?” I think therein lies the appeal to children and even adults in that they see parts of themselves when they see the residents of the 100 Acre Woods. Don’t focus on the individuals but look at the whole. When you dial back to the big picture you see a community, coming together to help one another. One might say you see what the church should be for each of us.

I see Pooh’s helpfulness reflected in I Thessalonians 5:11  “This is why you must encourage and help each other, just as you are already doing.” Tigger exemplifies I Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Always be joyful and never stop praying. Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ.” Piglet put his fears behind him (Psalm 34:4-6) “I asked the Lord for help, and he saved me from all my fears. Keep your eyes on the Lord! You will shine like the sun and never blush with shame. I was a nobody, but I prayed, and the Lord saved me from all my troubles.” Eeyore is a faithful friend as we see in Proverbs 18:24 “Some friends don’t help, but a true friend is closer than your own family.” Christopher Robin is a leader in the 100 Acre Wood, maybe even the group’s pastor “Don’t be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. Care about them as much as you care about yourselves. (Philippians 2:3-4). He cares deeply for his friends. 

God gives each Christian spiritual gifts, designed for the uplifting of His Kingdom. I Corinthians 12:4-6 reads “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve the same Lord, and we can each do different things. Yet the same God works in all of us and helps us in everything we do.” And in I Peter 4:10, we are told “Each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well.” I am by no means attributing spiritual gifts to the residents of the 100 Acre Wood, but attempting to demonstrate how the church can come together in the service of God. Coming together as The Church.

Yes, we are different from the characters in the 100 Acre Wood. They are a creation of a gifted writer. But we see ourselves in these characters. We are the creation of Almighty God and we are more than fictional characters – we can become children of God.

As Christians, we are the church in the world. That world is outside the four walls of our building. We are told in Matthew 22:9 “Go out to the street corners and tell everyone you meet to come to the banquet.” The world is outside. We are to bring them to the Lord’s heavenly banquet, prepared for all who will come.

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All scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible.

 

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