05/16/2007

One of the great privileges of being a Mother is the opportunity to share books with our children. I particularly enjoy sharing the works of famous theologians with Nathan. It is never too early to mold a child's spirit and intellect. One of our mutual favorites is the infamous Theodor Geisel, better known as the late Dr. Seuss. "A theologian?" you may ask. Although I'm willing to concede that his books don't reach the depth of C.S. Lewis or Martin Luther, I have found his subtle wisdom to be compelling. Through situations of the other-worldly and humorous sorts, Seuss rhymes truth in a simple and entertaining manner. Still curious? My favorite example is the book "Horton Hears a Who!"

Meet Horton. Horton, an elephant who resides in the Jungle of Nool, happens upon a speck of dust on May 15. Although stumbling upon a dust speck is generally not significant, this dust speck was different: Horton was sure he had heard the dust speck yell! Horton deduces that some VERY small creature must be residing on this speck of dust. Horton immediately feels sympathy for this tiny speck and feels the need to protect someone so nearly-invisible and helpless. Horton says, "...after all, A person's a person, no matter how small." The co inhabitants of Noor make fun of Horton. They think Horton's lost his mind! Why protect something that cannot be seen? Horton decides that it is likely that instead of only one person on that speck of dust, there is instead an entire civilization. Horton's concern for them grows. "I've got to protect them. I'm bigger than they." The kangaroos and monkeys devise a plan to steal the dust speck from Horton. An eagle carries the speck far away and drops it in the middle of a field of clover. Horton is distraught.

Horton had listened very closely to that speck of dust. He had come to discover that indeed, his lowly speck was home to the town of Whoville. Horton feels an incredible burden for the Who's of Whoville and searches through ten million cloverleafs until he finds them again. The kangaroos and monkeys are furious: Horton simply will NOT give up this speck of dust! They decide to boil the speck of dust...surely that would end the insanity! Horton speaks to the Whos and tells them that they must all yell in unison so that the others creatures will hear them and acknowledge their existence. "Don't give up! I believe in you all! A person's a person, no matter how small! And you very small persons will not have to die If you make yourselves heard! So come on, now, and TRY!" The Whos are heard and are thus saved!

An interesting story, you think...but perhaps you see no theological implications. "Horton Hears a Who" was published in 1954, which was nearly 20 years before the infamous Roe V. Wade court hearing would be decided. Ahead of the heat of an argument over when life begins comes truth from the mouth of an elephant, "A person's a person no matter how small." I read this story to Nathan and we laugh at the silly illustrations and the made-up words, but the truth resonates in my heart. A newly conceived baby may be small, impossible to hear, lacking in development, and without an earthly name, but God hears that speck of dust. God loves that speck of dust! God would search through one million cloverleafs for that speck of dust. God sent His Son for that speck of dust. In His eyes (as it should be in our eyes) "a person's a person no matter how small." I think, like Horton, we are called to action. Horton didn't sit idly by, but instead he used his voice-bigger, louder, more powerful than the Who's--to speak up for their right to live. "I've got to protect them. I'm bigger than they." People are intrinsically valuable: we have worth just because we are...it has nothing to do with our stature.

"A person's a person no matter how small."