Winnie the Poo

Sitting on the plane I had some time to sit and muse as one does. The girl sitting next to me looked about 15, maybe 16. At some stage during the flight she pulls out her backpack. A bright purple winnie the poo backpack. Searches through it for something and in the process pulls out the ol Port Royal tobacco pouch. Whilst in itself and today's society the fact she smoked was no major suprise. However the image and contrast really spoke to me and made me wonder. This young person, with a backpack themed from a childrens story book character. Along with this rough imaged tobacco. It made me realise how children these days grow up in a world where they are exposed to decisions and choices that have traditionally been associated with adulthood at an increasingly young age. Decisions and choices that have life long sometimes serious consequences. They are making these decisions at an age where many studies have claimed they lack the cognitive ability to corralate short term choices with long term consequences and outcomes. When I was young this meant I thought wow cool, theres a big ditch lets see if I can jump this in my bike. The end result: 4 black lines punctured and tatooed into my ankle for several years from the chain ring on my bike. Now we just have to look at the news.

It seems more and more I am constantly struck by a realisation of how much of God's love this world requires. And how ill-prepared I am for the purpose of passing it on.