Winnie the Pooh

This might surprise you, but I categorize personalities sometimes by Winnie the Pooh characters.  Not everyone fits into the Pooh constellation, but many do, I’ve found.  For instance, if I say, Eeyore, does that sound like anyone you know?  I’ve known several Eeyores in my lifetime.

You’ve got Pooh himself, Owl, Rabbit, Tigger, Kanga, Roo, and Christopher Robin.  Then Piglet.  No one probably wants to admit being a Piglet, but many still are.  You could probably write this paragraph itself, but someone wrote this description:

Piglet is a very timid piglet. He shows characteristics of anxiety and he stutters. He thinks of how any situation can go wrong and he argues with himself about what he should do if a situation does go wrong. For example, while trying to catch a heffalump,

Piglet thinks to himself how he can fake a headache so he will not have to face one of these creatures, in case it is fierce. Then he thinks to himself that if he fakes a headache he will be stuck in bed all morning, so he does not know what to do. These are the types of scenarios that make him anxious. He has thoughts that he creates that jump from one bad scenario to another. Piglet also shakes and blushes. His ears twitch when he is scared or nervous, which is often. He is usually very flustered.

Anxiety

A website used Piglet as an example of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.  It says:

The average person reading The World of Pooh by A.A. Milne would be exposed to an accurate portrayal of generalized anxiety disorder in Piglet. Piglet trembles, twitches, and is shaky. Piglet also has exaggerated startle responses to things that scare him. He also shows symptoms of autonomic hyperarousal, like rapid heart rate and shortness of breath.

When Piglet is in stressful conditions his anxiety levels tend to elevate and worsen. This is typical of young people with generalized anxiety disorder. Children with this disorder may also show signs of being unsure of themselves. The book accurately portrays generalized anxiety disorder in Piglet.

You might agree with me that A. A. Milne wasn’t attempting to portray a psychological disorder.  Milne just wrote maybe slightly exaggerated, perhaps even realistic, versions of a real person or types of people he knew.  He did such a good job that people still use these characters as descriptors, hence Piglets.

Piglet

Certain people tend toward the Piglet disposition or outlook.  When they watch Piglet, maybe his vulnerability has an attraction to them.  He doesn’t seem like a danger or a threat.  Piglet offers “helpful” criticism of ambitious, courageous action, opting for staying put in a safe confine.  Many appreciate his suggestion of a very conservative cautiousness.  The servant who buried his talents could have been a Piglet (cf. Matthew 25:14-30).

Being a Piglet belies biblical living, because of its sinful fear.  Scripture commands many times, “fear not” (63 times) and “be not afraid” (30 times).  That disposition disobeys also “be strong and of good courage,” which has many various versions in scripture.  The problem is not trusting God for protection.  He will not fail nor forsake you (Deut 31:6).  God doesn’t want that from His children.

People will prefer a Piglet.  A Piglet likely will not push them to take that courageous step of obedience.  He’ll be there, maybe hiding, but there for them.  They also might mistake this ungodly fear for humility, what scripture calls a type of voluntary humility (cf. Colossians 2:18).  Someone thinks so poorly of himself, that he can’t do certain required biblical tasks, that this lowly self consideration is humility.  It isn’t.

Weakness and Strength

For sure, the biblical paradox works.  “When I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor 12:10).  The end result of depending on God for strength is strength, not weakness.  It follows Paul’s command, “Stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).  It also follows what God commanded Job:  “Gird up now thy loins like a man” (Job 38:3, 40:7).

When you watch the interaction of all the Pooh characters, Piglet just fits in.  He provides a good laugh, because of his association with someone you know.  Or maybe you’re laughing, because you think he is you.  I get that.  I’m laughing too.  Maybe we’re laughing too much.  It’s not good.

If a boy today acts rowdy and rambunctious, society might opt for drugs to control him.  The state drugs thousands of American boys to turn them into Piglets.  A Piglet in class, he’s considered the model boy student.

Helping and Changing

Almost all obedient Christian living requires being other than a Piglet.  Some of the important tasks for God require rejecting Piglet attitude or disposition.  Jesus wasn’t a Piglet.  Paul wasn’t one.

Just because you are a Piglet, doesn’t mean you must stay a Piglet.  Or an Eeyore for that matter.  All of us have our own besetting behaviors, whichever poor or bad direction they move.  A Tigger could be subject to the same type of analysis.

Scripture requires categorizing people into simple, wise, foolish, weak, feebleminded, and unruly, among others.  A goal in ministry is to bring help and bear burdens.  Biblical ministry can move someone out of the Piglet category with the right amount of cooperation from a true believer.