the charge is electric
My daughter's favorite television show is the PBS program "The Electric Company" (a new incarnation of the classic, for those of you with long memories). For quite a long time she was entirely convinced she was Jessica, one of the members of this plucky group of young people endowed with special phonetically-inclined powers:
[Photo credit]
The members of the Electric Company do battle five times a week with the nefarious Pranksters, neighbors who aim to catch our heroes in various traps meant to humiliate, irritate or even seize the Electric Company's vaunted powers. The Pranksters include such notable personalities as Danny Rebus (guess how he prefers to communicate), Francine Carruthers and my personal favorite, Manny Spamboni:
[Photo credit]
The Pranksters are always defeated, of course, over the space of about 26 minutes, for any number of reasons and in a manner that is generally quite amusing. The subtext, though, is very interesting: the Electric Company may defeat Manny's gadget or Annie Scrambler's hypnotism scheme in any number of ways, but in the end, they are able to reign victorious not so much because of their powers but because they work together. They are true friends, willing to sacrifice for each other and put in the time to ensure another's success. The Pranksters, on the other hand, lack a fundamental element: trust. They trick the Electric Company, but in so doing they also open the door to tricking each other.
Friendship is a powerful--and God-given gift. Even people of great personal strength can grow weak when they lack the support of another, and the Bible is full of examples of how friendship has bolstered the lives and undertakings of those featured in its pages. David and Jonathan. Ruth and Naomi. Mary and Elizabeth. Paul and Timothy. Even Jesus and that recalcitrant guy Peter. Our ultimate strength may come from God, but so much of our power here on Earth comes through our relationships with each other.
Regrettably, I lack the ability to throw "Word Balls" like the members of the Electric Company. I am strengthened daily, however, by friendships, from that of my husband to those of the dear people who listen to me vent, remind me of my own attributes, support me in myriad ways and offer, as well, the ability for me to live a full and fulfilling life by granting me the opportunity to serve them, too.
"A friend loves at all times, and kinsfolk are born to share adversity."--Proverbs 17:17
[Photo credit]
The members of the Electric Company do battle five times a week with the nefarious Pranksters, neighbors who aim to catch our heroes in various traps meant to humiliate, irritate or even seize the Electric Company's vaunted powers. The Pranksters include such notable personalities as Danny Rebus (guess how he prefers to communicate), Francine Carruthers and my personal favorite, Manny Spamboni:
[Photo credit]
The Pranksters are always defeated, of course, over the space of about 26 minutes, for any number of reasons and in a manner that is generally quite amusing. The subtext, though, is very interesting: the Electric Company may defeat Manny's gadget or Annie Scrambler's hypnotism scheme in any number of ways, but in the end, they are able to reign victorious not so much because of their powers but because they work together. They are true friends, willing to sacrifice for each other and put in the time to ensure another's success. The Pranksters, on the other hand, lack a fundamental element: trust. They trick the Electric Company, but in so doing they also open the door to tricking each other.
Friendship is a powerful--and God-given gift. Even people of great personal strength can grow weak when they lack the support of another, and the Bible is full of examples of how friendship has bolstered the lives and undertakings of those featured in its pages. David and Jonathan. Ruth and Naomi. Mary and Elizabeth. Paul and Timothy. Even Jesus and that recalcitrant guy Peter. Our ultimate strength may come from God, but so much of our power here on Earth comes through our relationships with each other.
Regrettably, I lack the ability to throw "Word Balls" like the members of the Electric Company. I am strengthened daily, however, by friendships, from that of my husband to those of the dear people who listen to me vent, remind me of my own attributes, support me in myriad ways and offer, as well, the ability for me to live a full and fulfilling life by granting me the opportunity to serve them, too.
"A friend loves at all times, and kinsfolk are born to share adversity."--Proverbs 17:17
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