the cinnamon bear

Tuesday night was a Very Exciting Evening in the Gifford household, especially for those who happen to be 5 (although, quite frankly, it was rather exciting for me, too). It was finally time, once again, to…

…listen to the first episode of a 74-year-old, 26-part Christmastime children’s radio broadcast!

Yes, we’re a little odd. I do realize that.

However, I submit that the radio broadcast in question—“The Cinnamon Bear” (available online and via iTunes!)—remains a great deal of fun for more than just history nerds and their Lawrence-Welk-Show loving children. (The poor kid never stood a chance.)

Perhaps some of you remember the adventures of Judy and Jimmy, the Cinnamon Bear and the Crazy Quilt Dragon as they encounter one exciting adventure after another in the magical world of Maybe Land. Others of you may suspect I’ve taken something with my coffee this morning.

One thing is certain: among those who will remember this delightful story are many years’ worth of predominantly low-income kids from a wildly diverse set of ethnic backgrounds who’ve grown up in East Portland. Why? My mother, who first introduced my sister and I to The Cinnamon Bear on scratchy tapes recorded off a.m. radio, has shared the story with her first, second and third grade classes for years. They color pictures; they write stories; they undertake all sorts of the fun enrichment activities that children remember with pleasure—and from which they learn so much.

And they remember… oh, do they remember. Mom’s cycled through second and third grade with the same kids in a two-year rotation for a few years now, and in their second year the third graders can barely make it through Halloween before they start asking about The Cinnamon Bear. Some of the biggest, toughest kids have been among the most enthusiastic fans.

What is it about The Cinnamon Bear that attracts them so? I suspect there are several reasons. First, we as humans are wired for wonder. We are created to be in awe of the magic and splendor of the world around us. Second, we desire, deeply, the rhythm and reliability of the seasons. We need change, but we also need the familiar—and we need the sense of development and anticipation that comes with seasonal rhythm. Third… well, who can resist characters called Wesley the Wailing Whale and Snappersnick the Crooning Crocodile?

Reasons one and two, anyway, are paralleled in the season of Advent that we entered last Sunday. Mom’s students are fed by the story of The Cinnamon Bear. We also are fed by something much deeper—but just as magical. We need this time to hear the story and anticipate what comes next. We need to wait, and listen, and savor. The more we immerse ourselves, the more we will learn—and the more we will remember.

This season, I pray we may experience the childlike wonder of Advent in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of this season. Take a moment to engage in the activities that bring order and calm—light an Advent candle, open the door on a calendar… and perhaps, even, listen to an episode of The Cinnamon Bear. Even the secular can remind us of some very important truths.