Goodnight Moon

I'm not even going to discuss the broad gap since my latest post, I'm just going to say, "I'm back." Oops..I may have just discussed it!

One of my favorite stories to read to Adrian before he goes to bed at night is "Goodnight Moon." What a classic! Margaret Wise Brown (the author) is a genius! Here's a story that captures the sporadically wandering mind of a toddler in such a playful way that it deceivingly coaxes the reader into a mind-numbing state of being. Every time I read it, it doesn't matter what time of day it is, I am convinced that I have said my goodnight to the world and it is time to sleep. The story describes the prominent features of the "great green room," as the "quiet old lady is whispering 'hush.'" Then the narrator begins bidding goodnight to the kittens and mittens and clocks and socks until there is almost no one left to say goodnight to. My second favorite line is when the narrator seems to have run out of goodnights but adds, "Goodnight nobody." I love that! It so captures the mind of a tired child.

Well I was just about to read this particular line of the story - I hadn't yet turned the page - and Adrian exclaims, "nobody." My jaw dropped. I couldn't believe my ears. I stuttered, "Adrian, did you say, "nobody?" "Nobody." he replied. I had never heard him say that word before - not to mention the fact that it seemed to prove that he knew the story by heart. I guess I have read it to him a lot!

Now that I'm thinking about this story that I love so much, I'm wondering what I love about it so much. Is it because the story is so well crafted or because there are so few words to read? Or is it simply because I have read it so many times to Adrian and shared so many snuggling goodnights with my son that the story somehow preserves the memory? It makes me think of the story we share as Christians. As I approach the celebration of Easter I wonder, "What memories are preserved for us when we repeatedly share this story of crucifixion, death and resurrection?" We've heard it so many times, before the page is even turned we are exclaiming, "nobody." We know the story so well, but we love to hear it. We love to tell it. Because the story becomes a part of us - we begin to live it. I know there is more to say about this connection between story, repitition, ritual and community...but I think it's time for me to say my own "goodnight."

One final thing - I only told you my second favorite line of the book. My favorite line of the book is the last one. The narrator has just said goodnight to the stars and the air and concludes, "Goodnight noises everywhere." If that line doesn't prayerfully request a peaceful rest with words, it does so by spirit.