A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language: Lesson 22b

Topic: The Chlorhydris Files II - Outside The Box

Series: Smurfs

Episode: A Hug For Grouchy

Lesson PDF link: 22b.pdf

Introduction

We are discussing getting outside one's box of normalcy. This isn't so easy for a lot of people and Grouchy Smurf is no exception.

The story of this lesson's Smurfs episode "A Hug For Grouchy" is that Chlorhydris tries to take all of the love out of the world by trying to take out all of the emotions that a lot of the world's creatures have. This in itself is no small feat. However, Chlorhydris doesn't honor God with her plan.

This lesson is made to show that even the most unlikely of God's people (portrayed by Grouchy) can be one of His heroes. This is more or less a lesson on admirable courage to not let one's personality affect ministry negatively.

Scriptures Used Include: I John 4: 7-8; 16 Ecclesiastes 2: 17-26; I Corinthians 14: 20; Luke 17: 6-10; Joshua 24: 15

Remember Our Bible Point: Does everyone remember the Bible point of this lesson series? To emphasize it please read I John 4: 7-8, 16.

Even though these lessons do not build on each other, with every one of these lessons for the Chlorhydris theme we will have the same question. So, here it is. What did we learn about so far? Today we are studying getting out of one's box of normality. This is very difficult for some to accomplish and a lot of times is very necessary. Have you had a time like that? What was it like? Did you find it difficult or easy? Today we are going to discuss such a case.

Cartoon Show: Smurfs: "A Hug For Grouchy ":

My opening question is this: What would the world be like without emotion? Why?

First, I want you to remember when Chlorhydris was walking downstairs to her scheming chamber and when she was walking uphill. She was looking and sounding tired and she was out of breath. Chlorhydris said: "All these years of toiling to build a world without love have taken their toll on my health. There's no way I can chill the feelings of the world on my own. I need someone else to help me." The Bible has got an interesting passage on toil. Please read Ecclesiastes 2: 17-26. Linking to this section of the cartoon, what does this mean to you? Try to use your imagination if need be. Don't you think Chlorhydris is foolish biblically and physically? Wouldn't you want to get out of something if it were bad for you and destroying your health? Why would a person like Chlorhydris not want to do the right thing? Look at it through Chlorhydris's perspective. She has toiled a long time in vain; she wants to find someone to succeed her in her work. Her plans do not please God, so all her work is in the end going to be fruitless and meaningless in the end especially because God Is Love and cannot be destroyed. God will make sure His love is always on the earth somehow. Any succession in Chlorhydris's power, skill, effort, and goals will be dashed because God Is Love. Chlorhydris's plans are indeed what the Ecclesiastes scripture says: "Meaningless and a chasing after the wind".

In our cartoon Chlorhydris gets her wish (however forcefully). She uses her ice wand and chills the fairy's heart. Now the fairy is on her side, but she can't help herself. Enter Grouchy in this show. As stated before, he hates showing any emotion and is embarrassed to show them. Why do you suppose that Grouchy is like this? Is it a good thing? In our cartoon at this point our villain is winning. Chlorhydris's ice wand is being used over and over by the helpless iced-over fairy. The fairy strikes Baby Smurf 6 times before the spell is broken. Papa Smurf's book says that the ice wand doesn't affect babies. Why do you suppose this is true? Let us read I Corinthians 14: 20. With this part of the cartoon, what does this scripture mean to you in your life? This cartoon illustrates something very valid. Baby is an infant. He cannot think of anything evil, for he knows nothing about evil.

At the end of this cartoon, we see Grouchy finally gets up enough nerve to hug the fairy. Why do you suppose this happened? In our spiritual lives, God calls us to go outside our box of normalcy. Grouchy had to do this. Please read Luke 17: 6-10. When you look at these scriptures and at Grouchy, what do you see? Grouchy had to have courage to go outside his duty or box of normalcy. Grouchy also had to have faith and trust that it was OK to show love to the fairy to break Chlorhydris's spell. This wasn't easy for Grouchy. He went outside the call of duty and should be admired for that courage.

Do you think that Chlorhydris would be better off getting zapped by her own ice wand and the spell becoming permanent for her?

Why? If we take a look at Joshua 24: 15, we see that Joshua has made a choice to serve the one and true God. He says to his people:

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Even after all of this, God wouldn't want Chlorhydris zapped, because she wouldn't be able to make a choice to serve Him or not anymore. She wouldn't have any freedom of choice and God's love is so great that he still wants her to make her choice. On the surface, it would look somewhat good perhaps to some people, but it would still be making her to be denied her right to choose even if she is nasty.

To recap, why did Chlorhydris's plan fail? In a spiritual context, how did God show himself in this cartoon? To be sure God gives courage and faith to those that seek Him in the right way and gives words of encouragement to help those in need of instructions and help. God worked through Smurfette in this cartoon. She urged Grouchy to hug the fairy and to have courage in showing his emotions. God helped Grouchy in this cartoon to see his box of normalcy wasn't as important as the love language of hugging that Chlorhydris hates so bad because of what hugging represents. God shows many people on a daily basis in real life to not think selfishly and think of the greater good. How can you show love to someone this week and what love language will you use? How can you avoid experiencing what Chlorhydris is? In other words, how can you not have your plans turn into being "Meaningless and a chasing after the wind"?