The Alice in Wonderland Devotional
Last week for Tangible Kingdom I put together an Alice in Wonderland experience for the students. They followed white rabbits through Kanley Chapel to the Dialogue Center where I had prepared a tea party spread along with several interactive stations. At each station, students had to grapple with topics from Scripture paralleled with content from Alice in Wonderland. I will try as best as I can to replicate the experience for you on our blog in the weeks to follow, so grab a cup of tea and a scone and prepare to spend some quality time in God’s presence.
Running Late
The first creature Alice comes upon in Adventures in Wonderland is the White Rabbit. At first, out of curiosity, Alice decides to follow the little fellow down a rabbit-hole and into Wonderland. As the story continues, Alice’s curiosity is paired with an equal amount of distress over her state of being and which path to follow in Wonderland. All the while, as Alice is seeking the White Rabbit’s attention and aid every time she sees him, she hears him mutter, “Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!” and he just hurries on his way. (Carroll, p.1) Just as she finds herself to be standing over nine feet high and shedding gallons of tears, the White Rabbit crosses her path again.
“Alice felt so desperate that she was ready to ask help of any one; so, when the Rabbit came near her, she began, in a low, timid voice, ‘If you please, sir–‘ The Rabbit started violently, dropped the white kid gloves and the fan, and skurried away into the darkness as hard as he could go.”
Carroll, (p. 8).
How often do we find ourselves so caught up in our own schedules and trains of thought that we fail to notice the needs of others around us. I know I’m not the only one who runs late to things at times, but just imagine: if we took the time to leave for our destinations just five minutes earlier, this could give us time to give people directions, converse with an acquaintance we see, or just plain enjoy the opportunity we have to reflect upon God’s creation and the privilege we have to be a part of it.
How is this done? Perhaps you can trick your mind into being early. If you have a watch, set it five minutes fast. If you have to, set your watch aside and perhaps you’ll pick it up again when you’ve forgotten that you have done so. It’s just the slightest difference not to notice much, but just enough time to offer a little help to someone.
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.”
Luke 10: 30-34
The Chi Alpha WMU Blog 