Do you remember Swimmy? He is the one little black fish in a school of fish living in the sea. ("Swimmy," an enduring children's classic, written by Leo Lionni, 1963) Swimmy is different from the others, as they are all shiny and red, while he is as black as can be. They all swim happily together. 
Lesson that people can learn from the story of Swimmy: Different is okay. We can still all "swim" together.
One day a big hungry tuna fish comes and swallows every one of those little fish in a single gulp—all except Swimmy. Only he is left, all alone in his big wet world. At first, Swimmy is lonely and sad. Then he begins to swim around and discover all sorts of amazing things: jellyfish, a lobster and an eel, seaweeds and anemones.
Lesson to learn: If we keep our eyes open, there may be something good for us to discover, even in the situation that first presented itself as a personal disaster.
At last Swimmy discovers another school of fish, just his size, and all of them are shiny red just like the fish he used to hang out with. But instead of swimming around, they are all hiding in the dark places of the sea. When he asks them to come and swim with him and see all there is to see, they refuse because they are afraid they will be eaten by the bigger fish. "But you can't just lie there," Swimmy tells them. "We have to think of something."
Lesson from Swimmy's new friends: Fear keeps us from venturing out of our "safe" place. Fear keeps us from experiencing wonderful things. Fear keeps us from thinking straight.
At last Swimmy says, "I have it!" He teaches all the little fish to swim close together in formation so that they look like one huge red fish moving through the sea.
Lesson from Swimmy: Obviously, teamwork can accomplish what many small individuals cannot. "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts."
Then, because Swimmy is black and looks different from the rest of the huge fish-shape they have formed, he says, "I'll be eye." And so they all swim together and chase the big fishes away.
Lesson from Swimmy's story: Different is not only okay, it is absolutely necessary!
"Swimmy" is one of my favorite children's stories. Not only is it a work of art, but it has so much to say. It isn't really a stretch to see that the ideas it presents are not at all foreign to our life of faith. And those lessons are not juvenile!
><> Differences? The Apostle Peter said, "I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right." (Acts 10:34, 35) Paul writes, "There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)
><> Look for what is good. ”And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28)
><> Fear? "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (I Timothy 1:7) “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom." (Luke 12:32)
><> Teamwork is the key. "Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct." (Galatians 6:2-5)
><> We need each other. "Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other." (Romans 12:3-5)
Thanks for reminding us, Swimmy!
MaryMartha
Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.
Lesson that people can learn from the story of Swimmy: Different is okay. We can still all "swim" together.
One day a big hungry tuna fish comes and swallows every one of those little fish in a single gulp—all except Swimmy. Only he is left, all alone in his big wet world. At first, Swimmy is lonely and sad. Then he begins to swim around and discover all sorts of amazing things: jellyfish, a lobster and an eel, seaweeds and anemones.
Lesson to learn: If we keep our eyes open, there may be something good for us to discover, even in the situation that first presented itself as a personal disaster.
At last Swimmy discovers another school of fish, just his size, and all of them are shiny red just like the fish he used to hang out with. But instead of swimming around, they are all hiding in the dark places of the sea. When he asks them to come and swim with him and see all there is to see, they refuse because they are afraid they will be eaten by the bigger fish. "But you can't just lie there," Swimmy tells them. "We have to think of something."
Lesson from Swimmy's new friends: Fear keeps us from venturing out of our "safe" place. Fear keeps us from experiencing wonderful things. Fear keeps us from thinking straight.
At last Swimmy says, "I have it!" He teaches all the little fish to swim close together in formation so that they look like one huge red fish moving through the sea.
Lesson from Swimmy: Obviously, teamwork can accomplish what many small individuals cannot. "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts."
Then, because Swimmy is black and looks different from the rest of the huge fish-shape they have formed, he says, "I'll be eye." And so they all swim together and chase the big fishes away.
Lesson from Swimmy's story: Different is not only okay, it is absolutely necessary!
"Swimmy" is one of my favorite children's stories. Not only is it a work of art, but it has so much to say. It isn't really a stretch to see that the ideas it presents are not at all foreign to our life of faith. And those lessons are not juvenile!
><> Differences? The Apostle Peter said, "I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right." (Acts 10:34, 35) Paul writes, "There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)
><> Look for what is good. ”And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28)
><> Fear? "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (I Timothy 1:7) “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom." (Luke 12:32)
><> Teamwork is the key. "Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct." (Galatians 6:2-5)
><> We need each other. "Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other." (Romans 12:3-5)
Thanks for reminding us, Swimmy!
MaryMartha
Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.
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