Lessons From the Lorax
When I left my job as the sports editor at The Brewton Standard newspaper in 2015, I started off my final column with a quotes from Dr. Seuss.
I said: “Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened”
It wasn't until I was in my late 30s that I really sat down and watched Seuss’ movie The Lorax.
While watching the movie, something stirred inside of me and I printed out the script of the movie but never did anything with it. With my journalism background, writing a book became a thought, but once again I never did anything with it. The movie The Lorax would come up in conversation and on the TV more times than not and the stirring came back.
In the book and the movie we are shown how Ted lives in a place virtually devoid of nature; no flowers or trees grow in the town of Thneedville. Ted would very much like to win the heart of Audrey, the girl of his dreams, but to do this, he must find that which she most desires: a Truffula tree. To get it, Ted delves into the story of the Lorax, once the gruff guardian of the forest, and the Once-ler, who let greed overtake his respect for nature.
After Ted finds success, he goes against his word to the Lorax and chops down all the Truffula trees to make his product and we pick it up here:
LORAX SCRIPT:
You know what? You can just shut your mustache. My conscience is clear. I have done nothing illegal. I have my rights, and I intend to keep on biggering and biggering, and turning more Truffula trees into Thneeds. And nothing is going to stop me!
Well, that’s it. The very last one. That may stop you.
What stops him?
He cuts down the last tree and there are no more trees to cut down. Why are there no more trees? Because when cutting them all down, he didn't plant any more SEEDS for more trees to grow.
Without the seeds there are no more trees!!!
The script goes on to say:
So, this is really all your fault. You destroyed everything.
Yes. And each day since the Lorax left, I’ve sat here regretting everything I’ve done, staring at that word, “unless,” and wondering what it meant. But now I’m thinking… Well, maybe you’re the reason the Lorax left that word there.
Me? Why would he leave that for me?
Because unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.
The last Truffula seed. You need to plant it, Ted.
Yeah, but, nobody cares about trees anymore.
Then make them care. Plant the seed in the middle of town, where everyone can see. Change the way things are. I know it may seem small and insignificant, but it’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become. That’s not just a seed, any more than you’re just a boy.
I won’t let you down.
I know.
* * *
Ted then gets the seed and wonders why he gets it. Why is he the one? I'm not qualified to do this he may be thinking. But it was because he cared.
I care for teenagers. I have a burden to see them be successful. To get into Christ and stay on fire for them. And it hurts so bad when it seems like the seeds I think I am planting are not budding into what it needs to.
So the story goes on to say:
Hey, Audrey! Audrey!
Ted?
What are you doing?
Meet me at my house.
Wait, but…
My house, okay?
Then who shows up at the door. The evil Mr. O’Hare. He knows Ted has the seed and wants to take it because he doesn't want trees to grow because he wants to promote his own products.
John 10:10 says the enemy only comes to steal, kill and destroy us. Did you see that? THE ONLY PURPOSE for the enemy is those three things. And as soon as the Word is planted, the enemy wants to steal it.
I encourage you to read Matthew 13:23-34. Its in this scripture we see the different types of soil (hearts) that the Word is trying to be planted in.
The script continues:
I know you have it, Ted. So, let’s put an end to this nonsense, shall we? Hand it over.
I’m sorry… I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Really? Well, then… I guess you wouldn’t mind us checking your room.
No, no, no!
Morty! McGurk! Find the seed!
No, you can’t go up there! Guys, this is ridiculous. Stop! Hey! No, you can’t come in my room!
Find it! Find it!
What is going on here?
This doesn’t involve you! Get back downstairs!
Excuse me, down there! I don’t care who you are, you little crazy baby-man! Get out of my house now. This is outrageous.
Fine. Sorry. Must have been a misunderstanding. We’ll be leaving now. And my apologies, Ted. You be safe.
Mind telling me what’s going on here?
The seed! Where is it?
Seed?
Where’s Grammy?
The enemy wants the seed(s) but he only wants it to steal it and destroy it from being used for the goodness of God. But like in the movie, Granny says:
It’s alive! I remember you.
Ted, what is this about?
It’s about this.
Wait, wait, wait.
Is that… Yes. The last Truffula seed. And you’re going to help me plant it right in the middle of town where everyone can see it.
O’Hare says:
Seeds will ruin us all! (Kinda sounds like the enemy/the devil right?
But then the townspeople join together (in unity) and sing:
♪ You don’t know me, ♪
♪ but my name’s Cy ♪
♪ I’m just ♪
♪ the O’Hare delivery guy ♪
♪ But it seems like ♪
♪ trees might be worth a try ♪
♪ So I say let it grow ♪
♪ My name is Dan ♪
♪ And my name’s Rose ♪
♪ Our son Wesley kind of glows ♪
♪ And that’s not good, ♪
♪ so we suppose ♪
♪ We should let it grow ♪
♪ Let it grow, let it grow ♪
♪ You can’t reap ♪
♪ what you don’t sow ♪
♪ Plant a seed inside the Earth ♪
♪ Just one way to know its worth ♪
♪ Let’s celebrate ♪
♪ the world’s rebirth ♪
♪ We say let it grow ♪
♪ My name’s Marie, ♪
♪ and I am three! ♪
♪ I would really ♪
♪ like to see a tree ♪
♪ I say let it grow ♪
♪ I’m Grammy Norma I’m old, ♪
♪ and I’ve got gray hair ♪
♪ But I remember when ♪
♪ trees were everywhere ♪
♪ And no one had to pay for air ♪
♪ So I say let it grow ♪
♪ Let it grow, let it grow ♪
♪ Like it did so long ago ♪
♪ It is just one tiny seed ♪
♪ But it’s all we really need ♪
♪ It’s time to change ♪
♪ the life we lead ♪
♪ Time to let it grow ♪
♪ My name’s O’Hare, ♪
♪ I’m one of you ♪
♪ I live here in Thneedville, too ♪
♪ The things you say ♪
♪ just might be true ♪
♪ It could be time to start anew ♪
♪ And maybe change ♪
♪ my point of view ♪
Nah! I say let it die!
♪ Let it die, let it die ♪
♪ Let it shrivel up and… ♪
Come on, who’s with me?
Nobody.
♪ You greedy dirt-bag-‘ ♪
♪ Let it grow, let it grow ♪
♪ Let the love inside you show ♪
♪ Plant a seed inside the Earth ♪
♪ Just one way to know its worth ♪
♪ Let’s celebrate ♪
♪ the world’s rebirth ♪
♪ We say let it grow ♪
♪ Let it grow, let it grow ♪
♪ You can’t reap ♪
♪ what you don’t sow ♪
♪ It’s just one tiny seed ♪
♪ But it’s all we really need ♪
♪ It’s time to ♪
♪ banish all your greed ♪
♪ Imagine Thneedville ♪
♪ flowered and treed ♪
♪ Let this be our solemn creed ♪
Thank you, Ted.
♪ We say let it grow ♪
♪ In Thneedville ♪
♪ We say let it grow ♪
♪ It’s a brand new dawn ♪
♪ We say let it grow ♪
♪ In Thneedville ♪
♪ We say let it grow ♪
♪ It’s a brand new dawn ♪
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Popular Christian music group For KING & COUNTRY have a hit song named “What are We Waiting For?”
The lyrics of this song go like this:
Can't be what we can't see
Can't speak when we can't breathe
Can't dance if we don't move our feet
It's a blur tryin' to keep pace
Days are running like they're in a race
Can't move if we're in our own way
I guess the crisis is
We've just one life to live
And no one knows what happens next
So what are we waiting for?
What are we waiting for?
Why are we wasting all the time like someone's making more?
What are we praying for?
What are we saving for?
What if we could be the light that no one could ignore?
What are we waiting for?
Put the pen on a new page
Dream about what you could change
And live it out before it's too late
The beauty of it is
We've just one life to live
And no one knows what happens next, no
So what are we waiting for? (Waiting)
What are we waiting for? (Waiting)
Why are we wasting all the time like someone's making more?
What are we praying for? (Praying)
What are we saving for? (Saving)
What if we could be the light that no one could ignore?
What are we waiting for?
My wife and I attended the group’s Christmas concert a couple of years ago in Nashville. I honestly do not remember if they sang this particular song or not. I know you become more aware of things once you attend something or buy something. I guess it is just fresh on your mind since you have taken in the experience of whatever the situation may be.
But I have heard this song playing a lot recently on our local radio stations, but I never fully looked at the lyrics.
It is the second verse that I am trying to focus on that recently grabbed my attention.
The chorus: “Put the pen on a new page”
I studied print journalism in college at Troy University. While I studied journalism, my major had a concentration in Sports Information. I wanted to go into sports media, moreso the media relations and sports information side of things. I did this for two years at Troy University as I worked in the athletic department and helped with almost every sport the Trojans of Troy had to offer.
But upon graduation, my wife already had her career established as an elementary school teacher in our hometown and I moved back home to Brewton, Alabama and did odd jobs until starting my journalism career at our local newspaper The Brewton Standard. I worked there for almost eight years mainly doing sports editor duties upon tackling more duties until the end of my days there.
I say all this to say that even though my days at the newspaper are long gone, writing is still in my blood and writing a book has always been something that tends to pop up in my spirit.
So, What am I waiting for?
Put a pen to a new page. Put your fingers on the keyboard and get started. So here I am. Trying to live it out before it's too late. While this may not be a book, it is a blog and might can turn into a book or books one day.
So I mentioned earlier about my almost 8 years in the newspaper business. I admit, as I was getting closer to this work anniversary, I could sense my time was coming to an end in the newspaper world. First off, there were all the long hours of missing my family. When I first started in the industry, I had only been married for three months. Yes, I missed my wife when I had to be out long hours on the job, but by this time I had a daughter and I hated being away from things I was missing in her life. Plus, more and more duties had been put on me at the paper and there was no increase in pay and stress was mounting and it was not as enjoyable to me as it used to be.
During my time at the paper, my wife and I along with some others had planted a new church in a surrounding community. My wife and I are the youth pastors at the church and attended youth camp in the summer of 2015. We were one year into being youth leaders and our daughter was 5-years-old and about to start kindergarten. My wife was a kindergarten teacher at the same school.
At this youth camp, Deeper Youth Camp in Panama City, Florida, was an awesome experience.
Shortly after returning home, my wonderful Pastor preached a sermon that spoke to my spirit. During this time, I had the impression that I needed to quit my job. I was trying to figure out if it was me trying to convince me to do this or the Lord and Holy Spirit. So I proceeded to mention to my wife that this was the direction I felt I was being led to and what I felt like I needed to do. She responded that she had not heard or felt anything along those lines.
But later that night at church, Pastor spoke again and something clicked inside of her and she got the same confirmation. So we came up with a date to quit, but the thing was there was no other job at the moment to fall back on. So I was quitting in faith with nothing else lined up.
The time came and I turned in my two-weeks notice, notified all my coaches that I had relationships with and later wrote my final column as a full-time worker at The Brewton Standard.
We later went as a family with my family to the beach for Labor Day and came back that next week and I had no job.
But I didn't sleep in and sleep all day and do nothing. I prayed, sought the Lord, and did Bible studies. Applied for a few jobs here and there and talked to people at different jobs about coming to work for them. All still while being patient and being led by the Holy Spirit on what to do.
Also during this time, without a paycheck coming in, my wife and I sowed the largest seed that we had ever sewn into our pastors. It was a faith step and we named the seed as a job for me. But not only a job, but THE JOB that the Lord wanted me to do.
While without a job, an opening at our local school system became available. It was a computer technician job in the school’s IT department. I knew some about computers but there was a whole lot I knew nothing about. So I reached out to the person in charge and he shared with me what the job entailed. I immediately disqualified myself.
Upon meeting with some other businesses and their managers, I was about to take one job at a local car dealership as their website contact. The job would be some technology duties as well as maintaining the dealership’s website and posting pictures of their cars for sale on the internet among other duties.
My daughter was taking beginning ballet classes about 30 minutes or so from our home on Thursdays, so I would attend with my wife. During this particular ballet class, when my daughter was having class, my wife and I talked outside while walking around the adjacent track. We were discussing job plans and next steps to take when the director of the school IT department called my phone and asked if I had found a job yet and I could come in and just talk to him later that night. I told him I would.
Fast forward a few hours into the night and I go talk to him. I am still in the same t-shirt and shorts I was in from walking around the track at ballet lessons. So I go in and talk and during the “talk” low and behold it is a job interview. I did the best I could and then proceeded to pass one out of three test situations of technology issues.
I left and went home and told my wife all that had happened and then we called our pastors for advice and they prayed over us and with us and shared some insight.
The next morning, actually while I was still in bed, I received a call from the tech director and he offered me the job. A job that I had already disqualified myself from and by no means deserved. But after talking and accepting the job, I was told I was being offered it not by my experience but because of my integrity and character.
WOW! BUT GOD!
The pay was great. By far more than I was making eight years into a job that I had a college degree for. I would get Christmas break and Spring Break off along with other days and have a state retirement. All things that we were wanting and I would have more time off with my wife and daughter.
Again, BUT GOD!
God is faithful. He hears your prayers. He knows your heart and your desires. The hard part I would say is just trusting in His timing. We are impatient and want things done quickly and tend to give up when things are not done in or on our time frame. But God sees and knows the big picture. It is just up to us to trust him and like Proverbs 3:5-6 says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding, but in all our ways acknowledge and He will direct your paths.”
So if you read that verse backwards, it says the Lord will direct our paths if we do not go in the ways we think we need to go. He will direct our paths if we acknowledge Him and trust Him.
During the time without a job and another time in our lives that I will get into later, the verse Be Still and Know He is God was seen and heard a lot. Be still and know. I think that was the Lord’s way of just assuring me that He had my back. Our back. Just trust me.
Believe me, it is not easy. But it is worth it.
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UNLESS someone like you
cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better.
It’s not.
—Dr. Seuss
We all need to let the seed grow. But we cant do that UNLESS we plant the seeds into the ground.
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