Thursday, January 29, 2009

Three Blind Mice


Three blind mice, three blind mice
See how they run, see how they run
(and the song goes on....)

A few days ago, my Bible reading included Matthew 15.14, “...if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” It was a verse that I immediately connected the three mice with. Now tell me if that’s not an imagination! (No, I blame it on being an only child).

I remember singing this rhyme/song as a child, and then singing it to my children and grandchildren. Its' beginning strikes me most - blind mice, aimlessly running toward danger (i.e., the farmer’s wife). Oh, now that’s frightful!!! These guys chose putting their trust in a cause that allowed them total freedom to scurry about doing their own thing. It was a blindness where they couldn't determine right from wrong - so, kerplunk!, they (along with their leader) fall in the ditch (without their tails! for goodness sakes). Oh, and to think I exposed my children and grandchildren to such "vile" encounters reading/singing this atrocity to them! What was I thinking???

Seriously, sometimes our way is not always the best way. Sometimes we need to hear, "that's the wrong path, that's the wrong cause", etc. We don't need to attach ourselves to "itching ears" buddies. We need friends who will warn us of dangers ahead - not nonchalantly escort us into harmful and destructive settings. And I believe that we cannot afford to take for granted what we are told. We must confirm our leading by seeking answers in the Word and through faithful prayer. We must open the eyes to our hearts, and not risk blindly falling into the ditch (where danger lurks to destroy our souls) .

4 comments:

Just a thought said...

This little child hood ballad is a great teaching tool. It brings to light the lesson of not being aware of who or what you are not only following but emotional and culturally vested into. The lesson, in my personal option, is to look at and perceive what you are following.

MervI

Catherine Roseberry-Meyer said...

Right!

Chandra said...

Merv, that's also another way to look at it. The word ''perceive'' has me thinking and I think it will do me well to study it.

Karen, I think this topic can make an excellent object lesson for Children's Church. Maybe gathering up several prominent nursery rhymes and aligning them with a spiritual application.

Very nice.

Karen J. Hopper said...

Mervi & Chandra,
Not everything is always as it is seen, or perceived. And Chandra, nursery rhymes are great teaching tools - used to use them in my young people's class. You can present them on any level, just rearrange and change a few of the basic thought patterns that you want to present. I loved doing The Three Men in the Tub, the Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick Maker. Lots of "meat" to it.