Rodent Reverence

a.k.a. Devotions with Disney

Try to convince me if you can, but Mitch Albom’s book, Five People You Meet in Heaven, was far from an original idea. From my very first days in Sunday School, I was planning my list of ‘Who’s Who in Heaven’ -- my absolute must-meets upon arrival. Sure you’ve got the Big Three acknowledged in the Nicene Creed; They (justifiably capitalized) were a given. No need to include the Trinity on my after-death dance card.

For years, one mustachioed, mouse-manufacturing man topped my tally. Cryogenically frozen cranium mythology aside, surely his soul would welcome my similarly disembodied hugs of gratitude at the Gates of Pearl. By that time, with heavenly accessible omniscience, he’d know how very much we shared in common: my birthday, December 3rd. His? December 5th. (Yes, December 7th is the ‘day that will live in infamy,’ but that doesn’t relate to our connectedness.) He liked making animation; I liked watching it. He viewed artists as valuable, enriching, irreplaceable individuals within a healthy society. No argument from me there. Much like my views on life, his features include moments of palpable fear, sadness, even evil -- but inevitably, the heroes and heroines seem to find the brightness, light, and goodness by movies’ end -- so long as you remember that if you whistle while you work, someday your prince will come, and that when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true.

What of that small-voiced Wee Cricket? Michelangelo’s Sistine Ceiling depiction may be more dignified; but I daresay the God of my heart isn’t bothered by my imaginings of an ever-present, ever-smiling, conscience spurring, positivity oozing supporter, and thankfully forgiver when describing the attributes I value most in my vision of the Supreme Being. Thanks, Mr. Disney.*(*Here’s hoping you and The Big Man have worked out that disturbing anti-Semitic issue. After all, you’re still on my list. ---CRL)

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Today's guest poster has been Cheryl Lage, author of the book Twinspiration. You can find the latest scoop on twins in the news and around the net at her website Twinsites. Visit her beautiful kids on her blog Twinfatuation.

She and I are often on the same wavelength and today is no exception. We had an amazing honor to visit a very special, very private place that Walt created and loved at Disneyland (no, not Club 33). I'll have the full report with pictures coming up.