You Are Special

Last night we watched and excellent production of ‘You Are Special’. The original story by Max Lucado, adapted as a musical stage production, was presented by a talented group of local youngsters.

Our programme introduces the story:

‘Every day little wooden people named Wemmicks, go about their lives in the Wemmick village, and on the hill overlooking their village stands the woodcarver’s workshop.

The Wemmicks spend all day every day giving each other stickers. Talented, clever, and pretty Wemmicks, with smooth wood and fine paint, are given gold stars. But Wemmicks who are clumsy, have chipped paint, or make mistakes are given grey dots. Each Wemmick has many stickers, but one of them has only managed to earn dots. His name is Punchinello…’

Punchinello tries hard to gain gold stars, but, always unsuccessful, he gains more grey dots. Laughed at and rejected by the other Wemmicks he feels that he’s a failure.

Then he meets Lucia. Lucia has no stars or dots. For some reason they don’t stick to her. She explains that each day she goes to see Eli, the woodcarver.

Punchinello goes to see Eli, the woodcarver who made him. Eli explains that what the Wemmicks think of Punchinello doesn’t matter: the stickers only stick if you let them: ‘All that matters is what I think. And I think that you are very special.’

In understanding that, Punchinello’s dots start to drop off…

Musing…

…We give each other stickers – We label each other critically, praise some with stars, shame the faults of others with grey dots…

…We care what others think – We’re sensitive about what others think of us, yet are often insensitive about the way our opinions affect others…

…We all need a Lucia – someone to point us in a different direction. Sometimes we need to be a friend, a ‘Lucia’ to help others to find a better way.

…‘Lucia’ means ‘light – At Christmas we remember Jesus, who came to bring light to the world’s darkness, to point to a better way…

…’You are special’ – the word of our Creator woodcarver to us. This counts for far more than any sticker (gold star or grey dot) that others might give us.

I too smiled, laughed and cried a little… because these wonderful young people had reminded me of these important truths.