Babe, The Pig

One of the cute movies we used to enjoy watching with the kids was called, “Babe, the Pig”. It was a humorous tale about farm animals learning to “keep their place” and the two rebellious animals who were always trying to be something they weren’t. Ferdinand, the duck spoke some deeply philosophical thoughts in one scene when he declared, “The life of a single anorexic duck may not seem like much in the broad scheme of things, but pig! – I’m all I’ve got!” Ferdinand had astutely observed that a duck’s place was to be killed and eaten for dinner – a duty he found extremely displeasing. So he refused to gain weight and he tried to find a new function on the farm, specifically trying to do the job of the rooster. But that didn’t turn out quite as helpful he thought since he couldn’t “help” the hens with the eggs and the farmer’s wife bought a “mechanical rooster” (an alarm clock)!

Poor Ferdinand just couldn’t make things go his way and his melancholy only deepened with each successive failure. It came to the point that he decided to pack up and leave the farm and go looking for a “kinder, gentler land.” Babe the pig, on the other hand, had more success as he became adept at handling sheep and working hard with the “master.” He made unusual friendships through his unassuming simple honesty, and in the end built and maintained real relationships that not only ensured his life, but gave him a real purpose for living.

Many of us struggle like poor Ferdinand, trying desperately to make something successful or important out of our lives because we all want to be valued. Even following Jesus can result in feelings of worthlessness, especially in the midst of trials and demands made on our time and attention. So, like Ferdinand, we try to do more or do something we think is important, when all along what God is calling us to is a real relationship with Him and with others.

Like Babe, the pig, as we give ourselves to the Lord and others (looking for nothing in return and only wanting to serve), we find a wholesome outlook on life while love grows and deepens our existence. While we pursue giving ourselves to the Lord it makes us of highest value to the people around us.

May we choose to seek, not importance or recognition, but only to love and serve from the heart. Then we will hear the Master say, “That’ll do, pig, that’ll do!”

How exciting to be His people,

Pastor David Vanderpool