Coco Calling No. 124 - The Broccoli, the Mushroom, the Walnut and the Banana

I like to eat virtually anything, especially when it’s not strictly guarded on my owner’s dinner plate (or in the dog bowl!) And that happens to include broccoli, mushrooms, walnuts, and bananas. Which leads me on to this little story…

Four pieces of food were gathered together on a table top.

The broccoli said: “I look like a small tree.” The mushroom said: “I look like an umbrella.” The walnut said: “I look like a brain.” And the banana said: “Please can we change the subject!”

I guess we’ve all felt a bit like that banana at some stage in our lives. Sometimes embarrassed, sometimes not quite fitting in with others, or simply feeling different or inferior.

It must be like that for people of different colours, races, cultures or creeds when they find themselves living away from their roots. Or for folk walking into a new club or a cliquey church for the first time. Or it can even happen amongst our friends when we make a careless or insensitive comment.

Humans have invented something called “political correctness” to try to make everyone feel valued and included. But like many human initiatives, “political correctness” is usually flawed. Because so often, it’s applied without love, warmth and compassion.

Ultimately, it’s love that will change our society. It’s love that will make us all feel comfortable with one another, and make us more sensitive towards the feelings and insecurities of others. It’s love that changes attitudes and prejudices and negative mindsets. It’s love that makes us all feel valued and accepted, despite who we are and what we look like. Irrespective of whether you’re a piece of broccoli, a mushroom, a walnut or a banana. And therefore, love should be at the very heart of everything that we think, believe and do. Right from the top of government, down to the vagrant sleeping rough on the streets. It’s only love that can unify, harmonise, pacify and unite. Ask any Lovebird!

“…and love your neighbour as yourself.” (Luke 10:27b)

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” (Luke 6:27)

“I ask that we love one another.” (2John 1:5b)

#broccoli #mushroom #walnut #banana #PoliticalCorrectness #unify #pacify