Do stuffies go to heaven?

Listening to your life to bolster faith and creativity.

I’m having fun over here, in my corner of God’s green earth being a dad, writing things down, creating content, sharing links to interesting things on the web.

I do my best to take Frederick Buechner’s words to heart, words which have guided my approach to writing for some time: Listen to your life.

See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.

~ Frederick Buechner, Now and Then

If you’ve never read his book Now and Then, I highly recommend it. Buechner, in his simple, vivid style suggests that as humans our responsibility is “to pay attention, to stop, look, and listen for what God is doing,” in the every day.

These moments—mundane, unexpected, rote, glorious—reveal profound things. And for people who create, being attentive is the way to pluck up plot points, release the rhyming couplets and break out banger lyrics. To uncover truths.

Dallas Willard, in his equally recommendable Hearing God says it this way:

We must be open to the possibility of God’s addressing us in whatever way he chooses, or else we may walk right past a burning bush instead of saying, as Moses did, ‘I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up’ (Ex. 3:3).  I say in all seriousness that we may mistake the voice of God for the sound of someone’s radio turned up too loudly, for some accidental noise or – more likely still – for just another one of our own thoughts.

So, what does this have to do with stuffies?

As some of you may know, I’m an author with The Skit Guys, that US-based comedic duo, who also publish the work of playwrights like me that help people laugh in church.

I have a growing library of skits that are performed in churches across North America between the worship set and the sermon when the congregation’s attention is primed. I write these little stories with the hopes of opening up insights, through laughter and surprise, to bring fresh sensation to truths that we may be overly familiar with.

And the way in, for me, is to listen to my life. More recently, it’s often listening to my #dadlife.

My daughter, whose joie de vivre is unmatched, recently threw Petra and I a theological curve ball and we had to think on our feet.

Do stuffies go to heaven? Sophie asked. And the high propulsion world of a family with two young kids, too many Legos, and unfinished yogourt drinks littered about seemed to slam to a halt. All of heaven seemed to lean in, grinning, to hear how we might answer the question.

As Petra and I threw the response back and forth to each other like a hot potato, careful not to hold it too long lest it morph into blasphemy, the hook was in. I had the perfect new title for a skit, and plans for an immediate pastoral visit. (Thank God for professionals).

It was but one example of the unexpected ways faith and creativity collide, right in the middle of breakfast. And now I can’t imagine a heaven without big-eyed, stuffed dragons and pastel-coloured squishmallows.

I’m also startled (but not surprised) at what I don’t know about the world which, for now, remains unseen.

And I wonder, What will I hear today? What are we listening for that will break open and uncover a truth that will refresh our time with wonder, with delight?

Here’s to listening to our lives and not rushing past the shrubs aflame all around us.

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Here’s a first look at the skit, which is part of my Train Up A Child series (that includes Tithing with Scissors, If God Had a Facebook Account, My Parents Went to Bethlehem and I Didn't Even Get a T-Shirt and others).

Do stuffies go to heaven?

By Andrew Kooman

Synopsis: Janet (mid-30s) is about to jump in the shower to get ready for church when her son Timmy (7 yrs-ish) asks an unexpected question. The question gives Janet and Timmy an opportunity to talk about how amazing heaven will be.