Hunny! 40 Days in the 100 Aker Wood – Day 16 – Saturday after 2nd Sunday of Lent

To Read:

Kanga and Christopher Robin and Piglet were all standing round Roo, watching him have his Extract of Malt.  And Roo was saying, “Must I?” and Kanga was saying, “Now, Roo dear, you remember what you promised.”

So Tigger came closer, and he leant over the back of Roo’s chair, and suddenly he put out his tongue, and took one large galollop, and, with a sudden jump of surprise, Kanga said, “Oh!” and then clutched at the spoon again just as it was disappearing, and pulled it safely back out of Tigger’s mouth.  But the Extract of Malt had gone.

“Tigger dear!” said Kanga.

“He’s taken my medicine, he’s taken my medicine, he’s taken my medicine!” sang Roo happily, thinking it was a tremendous joke.

Then Tigger looked up at the ceiling, and closed his eyes, and his tongue went round and round his chops, in case he had left any outside, and a peaceful smile came over his face as he said,  “So that’s what Tiggers like!”

Which explains why he always lived at Kanga’s house afterwards, and had Extract of Malt for breakfast, dinner, and tea.  And sometimes, when Kanga thought he wanted strengthening, he had a spoonful or two of Roo’s breakfast after meals as medicine.

“But I think,” said Piglet to Pooh, “that he’s been strengthened quite enough.”

(The House at Pooh Corner – In which Tigger comes to the Forest)

(Ruth 1v15-18)

To Reflect:

Which explains why he always lived at Kanga’s house afterwards, and had Extract of Malt for breakfast, dinner, and tea.  And sometimes, when Kanga thought he wanted strengthening, he had a spoonful or two of Roo’s breakfast after meals as medicine.

At last!  Not only do we find what Tiggers ‘do’ eat, we also find someone who enjoys taking their medicine and, instead of a spoonful of sugar with it, want another spoonful of medicine!

As the story of our friends in the 100 Aker Wood unfolds I find it interesting that the two (and a half) characters who just appear in the wood are the ones who end up sharing a home together.  Kanga – with her Roo – and Tigger both arrive out of nowhere.  They do things differently to the other animal and the only thing they have in common, besides being interlopers, is that one of them bounces and the other jumps.

Though they are strangers, foreigners if you will, they are welcomed.  They are able to find the freedom to welcome each other secure in the knowledge that those around them mean well and welcome them also.  As another story about a bear recounts;

Aunt Lucy: Long ago, people in England sent their children by train with labels around their necks, so they could be taken care of by complete strangers in the country side where it was safe. They will not have forgotten how to treat strangers.                   

(from Paddington Bear)

It is such very good news that this generous welcome to the Kanga’s and Tigger’s, the Paddington’s, and the Naomi’s and Ruth’s of society persists across the world even today.  

For example in our town, through groups such as Ukraine2Felixstowe, we have learnt to be a place of welcome and comfort for those in need.  There are challenges, some need attention others are just a tad banal.  Our sacristan has noted a concerning increase in the number of votive candles being lit by Ukrainians coming into church to pray.  However, as our sacristan and I noted, the number of used tea-lights is the only proof we have that the church has been used for prayer….  But there is also much joy.  My day today was full of the warmth given to it by the broad smile of a young Ukrainian child in the queue for our Parish Pantry to whom I gave a chocolate bar.

This task of welcome is not easy.  Tiggers will continue to be bouncy and some will wonder if they have ”been strengthened quite enough.”  And perhaps it’s time for them to be bouncy somewhere else.  But we listen to these contrary voices at our peril for did not our Beloved say;

“Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, for the least among all of you is the greatest.”                             

(Luke 9v48)

(George Herbert)