It’s All About Perspective
“The wonderful thing about Tiggers, is Tiggers are wonderful things. Their tops are made out of rubber, their bottoms are made out of springs. They’re bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun. But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers, is I’m the only one!”
If you’re a Winnie the Pooh fan, you recognized these song lyrics immediately. If you know the tune, you may have a hard time getting that song out of your head!
Now, see if you remember these mournful words spoken by one of Tigger’s many friends:
“I’m telling you. People come and go in this Forest, and they say, ‘It’s only Eeyore, so it doesn’t count.”
I grew up loving these two characters. Somedays I felt bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy like Tigger. Other days, I could moan and groan as slowly as Eeyore. We’re all a little bit Tigger and a little bit Eeyore. I’d like to be a lotta bit Tigger, wouldn’t you?
Did you know you can find Tigger and Eeyore in the Bible?
No, they’re not called by those names, but that’s exactly who they are! They’re first mentioned in 1 Kings 4:31, “Solomon was wiser than all the other men; wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite and Heman…” I always ran through those names like they were merely honorable mentions until I got to Psalms 88 and 89. These Psalms (or songs) were written by the Sons of Korah from Maskils of Heman and Ethan. Since Maskils imparted Hebrew wisdom, I guess we can safely say that two wise guys wrote Psalms 88 and 89.
Heman moans in true Eeyore fashion throughout Psalm 88. Just listen to a few of his woes: “I have had enough of my troubles …You have distanced my friends from me; you have made me repulsive to them. I am shut in and cannot go out …You have distanced loved one and neighbor from me; darkness is my only friend.” (Does any of that sounds familiar during this quarantine?)
I’m afraid I’m most like Heman on those days when I impatiently want to cut through the niceties of “how’s-your-mom-and-them”, and get on with the heartache at hand. Heman had definitely had enough of his situation and wanted his problem solved yesterday! Yet, he definitely deserves an attaboy for knowing where his help comes from: “But I call to you for help, Lord; in the morning my prayer meets you.”
Heman concludes laying out his frustration after 18 verses, but Ethan pours out 37 verses in Psalm 89 before even beginning to reveal his struggle. Using almost three times as many words as Heman, his approach to God says much about their relationship. He realizes where his help comes from, but he also understands the process involved in solving any and every sorrow.
In this Psalm, this Tigger-hearted man identified four truths that can guide our hearts and minds when we seek help from above:
1. Praise in difficult times reminds us of God’s faithfulness. (verses 1-18)
2. Promises found in God’s words give us hope. (verses 19-37)
3. Problems reveal our powerlessness. (verses 38-45)
4. Pleading acknowledges the source of all power. (verses 46-51)
None of us chose the road we find ourselves traveling during this pandemic. It held up no fork where we might pause and ponder our own direction. We like say-so. We like making our own choices. But, can I humbly tell you that you have a choice? You get to choose your perspective toward the bumps and potholes in your journey. You can be a Tigger, or you can be an Eeyore.
Heman blamed God for making him repulsive to his friends, but I tend to think his friends got tired of hearing him complain. These days, I want to be known for a song! A new song of praise that shouts Ethan’s words, “Happy are the people who know the joyful shout; Lord, they walk in the light from your face. They rejoice in your name all day long, and they are exalted by your righteousness. For you are their magnificent strength!”
Who knows? Ethan may have bounced, trounced, flounced, and pounced while writing this! And that’s a wonderful thing!
Donna Jackson
Lean into Jesus Ministries
www.perfectionroad.com
#donnajacksonblogs
P.S. If you have kids at home, or you are a big kid, you might enjoy watching this: