And That is That

Every so often, you will run across something you’ve seen countless times, and suddenly it’s bathed in a brand new, heart-thrilling light.

This happened to me today.

When I was little I often read my Mom’s A. A. Milne books (author of Winnie the Pooh). Some were stories, while others were poems. One book was titled When We Were Very Young, and contained a very ordinary poem about a boy named John. I read it so many times I could recite it by memory to this day.

I’ve been wandering through a book of quotes compiled by Robert Fulghum lately, and once again ran across this poem. (Robert Fulghum penned the brilliantly simple modern classic All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.) Mr. Fulghum added some thoughts on what this poem means to him, and there sprung forth its new meaning for me. His perfect summary follows. Just wanted to share it.

John had
Great big
Waterproof
Boots on;
John had a
Great big
Waterproof
Hat;
John had a
Great big
Waterproof
Mackintosh –
And that
(said John)
Is
That.

- A. A. Milne

If you live for a long time … you cherish the feeling of being warm and dry and still out in the weather. This poem expresses that sense of well-being. A child understands. In the quest for God, when you find out there is nowhere God is not, and that you are as much a part of the universe as the farthest star, you have a sense of well-being not unlike the child in this poem. That is that … It’s a state of being, understood by a child of six or sixty.

- Robert Fulghum

How wonderfully delicious and comforting is this concept? That though we are so small, in such a vast universe, we are so loved by its Creator. Each and every one of us. Nevermind that we don’t deserve it, that doesn’t matter. We are His special ones, His great love among all of His creation. A love so great, that this state of being - this warm, snug comfort that we can receive from the mere knowledge (and will hopefully notice at some point) - is only a glimmer of what His heart holds for us. And through any storm, His shelter is there, to keep us warm and toasty in the elements.

I don’t know about you, but this is just the sort of thing I needed to be reminded of today.

Have a great weekend!