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Monday, May 09, 2005
Go Thou and Do Likewise
"Love thy tubbies as thyself," it said.
The cover of the Mother's Day card our granddaughter gave Joanne yesterday.
The picture showed, in the background, three tele-tubbies all wrapped up in a group hug. Up front stood Tinky Winky, complete with handbag, holding hands with the funkiest Jesus I've seen in a while.
Christina selected the card herself. Which I think is way cool. Her dad watched her choose it, no comments or questions, and gladly put the money down. Even way cooler.
A few years ago some of Jesus' more famous disciples in America chose to go on the attack against poor Tinky Winky. Something about lavender skin and that handbag. On television. Watched by impressionable toddlers. All across our nation.
Maybe coincidentally, these pious critics were also TV celebrities. Ratings wars? You make the call.
They made inuendoes. They directly stated. Our littlest children were being programmed to accept unusual friends just like they were normal.
Now, I believe Jesus knew how to have a good laugh. Till the tears came. With his disciples on the road or in a cozy borrowed room along the way. With a woman by a well at noonday (see John 4:1-26). With another woman who refused to take no for an answer (that's in Mark 7:24-30).
But I wonder if he laughed or cried at the silliness of evangelists attacking make-believe TV critters in his name. My 9 year old granddaughter can't even decide which of 'em is a boy and which a girl. Try neither. They don't exist. Honest!
Jesus made it a point, again and again, to accept unusual friends just like they were normal. Whatever that is. And each time he did that, it deepened and widened the norm for normal.
A wiseguy asked him once which commandment was the best summary of moral righteousness. In reply he nailed a perfect 10 with: "Love thy neighbor as thyself." (Luke 10:25-27; and see Galatians 5:14)
I figure, if my wife can love her tubbies, she'll be able to handle her hubby too. Unusual as I can be at times, I think that's the best good news of all.
posted by Jack Buckley at
12:16 PM
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