PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND

June 9, 2024

UNLESS

The Rev. Lauren Hall, pastor of the Plymouth United Methodist Church, used as an illustration for her sermon on May 26, 2024, the book The Lorax by Dr. Seuss.  The story is about a boy who goes in search of the old Once-ler to learn about the Lorax.  When the boy finds the Once-ler lurking on the top floor of his store, the Once-ler tells him his story.

Many years ago the land was rich with Trufflula Trees that provided a wonderful environment for all creatures who lived in the area.  The Once-ler saw the potential profit using the trees tufs to make all kinds of products.   In time the Once-ler in his thirst for riches had chopped down all the Truffllula Trees and had left behind nothing but ruin and destruction.

Several times the Lorax had warned Once-ler about the dangers of his endeavor.  The Lorax was the spokesperson for the trees, the Bar-ba-loots, other creatures, and the land.  Finally, the Lorax leaves and never would seem to return.  However, he leaves behind a pile of rocks with one word on it, “Unless.”

Dr. Seuss ends The Lorax with the following challenge for his readers and listeners. “But now,’ says the Once-ler, “Now that you’re here, the word of the Lorax seems perfectly clear. UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  It’s not. “SO… Catch!” calls the Once-ler.  He lets something fall.  “It’s a Truffula Seed.  It’s the last one of all!  You’re in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds.  And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs.  Plant a new Truffula.  Treat it with care.  Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air.  Grow a forest.  Protect it from axes that hack.  Then the Lorax and all of his friends may come back.”

In the two creation stories God (The Lorax?) places man in the garden to take care of it.  “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. … Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over the creatures that move along the ground (Genesis 2:15; 1:26).”  Man’s primary relationship with the creator is as protector, not consumer.  The Once-ler had descended into the later category and creation had suffered.

President John F. Kennedy is very often credited with the saying “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”  The origin of the quote is uncertain.  You can find a similar idea in Proverbs 24:10-12.  “If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!  Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.  If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this,’ does not he who weights the heart perceive it?  Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?”

Dr. Seuss might have put Kennedy’s quote in the following way: “Evil will triumph UNDLESS good people do something.”  And who are these good people?  They are people reading and listening to The Lorax and you who are reading this article.

(Comments may be sent to davidh15503@embarqmail.com.)