The Theology of Winnie the Pooh

No one in his or her right mind would argue with the theology of Winnie-the-Pooh. The lovable bear has given us some of our greatest insights into life. Pooh said, “Some people care too much. I think it’s called love” and “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” Such wisdom is priceless!

Some people care too much. I think it’s called love.

The original version of Winnie-the-Pooh was a fictional teddy bear created by English author A.A. Milne. He first published a collection of stories about the character in 1926. Walt Disney Media adopted (i.e. purchased) the character in 1966, and the popularity of Winnie-the-Pooh began to soar, much like a honey-loving bear on a blustery day!

Not surprisingly, Pooh provides great insight into the work of PastorServe. A recent social media post originally caught my eye. Soon after, it captured my heart. Why? Because it so beautifully describes the ministry of PastorServe. In The Complete Tales of Winnie-The-Pooh, the following act of love and compassion takes place.

It occurred to Pooh and Piglet that they hadn’t heard from Eeyore for several days, so they put on their hats and coats and trotted across the Hundred Acre Wood to Eeyore’s stick house. Inside the house was Eeyore. “Hello Eeyore,” said Pooh. “Hello Pooh. Hello Piglet,” said Eeyore, in a glum sounding voice. “We just thought we’d check in on you,” said Piglet, “because we hadn’t heard from you, and so we wanted to know if you were okay.” 

Eeyore was silent for a moment. “Am I okay?” he asked, eventually. “Well, I don’t know, to be honest. Are any of us really okay? That’s what I ask myself. All I can tell you, Pooh and Piglet, is that right now I feel really rather sad, and alone, and not much fun to be around at all, which is why I haven’t bothered you. Because you wouldn’t want to waste your time hanging out with someone who is sad, and alone, and not much fun to be around at all, would you now.” Pooh looked at Piglet, and Piglet looked at Pooh, and they both sat down, one on either side of Eeyore in his stick house.

Eeyore looked at them in surprise. “What are you doing?” “We’re sitting here with you,” said Pooh, “because we are your friends. And true friends don’t care if someone is feeling sad, or alone, or not much fun to be around at all. True friends are there for you anyway. And so here we are.” “Oh,” said Eeyore. “Oh.” And the three of them sat there in silence, and while Pooh and Piglet said nothing at all; somehow, almost imperceptibly, Eeyore started to feel a very tiny little bit better.

Pooh and Piglet provide us a beautiful picture of the ministry of presence. Remember Job’s three friends? They led the greatest counseling session ever when they “sat with him (Job) on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great, (Job 2:13) and then they blew it! Sometimes, just being available is the greatest ministry we can provide. 

Like Pooh and Piglet, sometimes you need to go in search of the hurting. As Pooh once said, “You can’t stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”

Thank you for your partnership with PastorServe that allows us to minister to pastors, often, through the ministry of presence. Your partnership allows us to minister to many who are isolated, lonely and depressed. They are in need of a Pooh and a Piglet! Thank you!! 

And remember the wise words of Winnie-the-Pooh, “It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like ‘what about lunch?” Who could argue with that?!

Your Honey-Loving Friend,

Jimmy Dodd, Founder and CEO