“The rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.”

Psalm 19:9-10

Like many millennials, I identify with Winnie the Pooh on many levels. A love of food? Check. Deeply committed to naps? Check. Ambling through life, often confused by the simplest of tasks….? Check. Created by AA Milne, immortalised by Walt Disney, Winnie the Pooh and his friends are a surprisingly profound bunch with many quotes that catch you off guard.

For example, is there anything more descriptive of the “brunch generation” than this little exchange between Pooh and Piglet:

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”

“What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?”

“I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. “It’s the same thing,” he said.”

Winnie the Pooh’s adventures revolved around a simple quest: honey. He craved it, dreamt about it, pursued it. Honey is everything to Pooh. This moment sums it up: “Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called.”

Psalm 19 is all about the Word of God and how it changes and re-orientates our lives. It’s written in a specific way, to take us on that journey. David begins with creation; the order, the design, the marvellous way that God has made the Heavens and the Earth. Then, he turns to the Word of God and how it will bring our human life into the same order. Just like the planets and stars hang in balance, the Word of God will set us in place, refreshing our souls, giving wisdom, giving us a place and a purpose. We find meaning at last. The search is over.

Winnie the Pooh isn’t just a bear craving honey, he is all of us: a searcher and a seeker, for that which will satisfy and fill. His quest is our quest: the exploration for fulfillment. We were designed to search because we were designed to be filled. That’s why David dismisses the lesser joy of gold or honey (cue a gasp from Pooh!) because those things do not produce the righteousness we need. We need more than a full stomach; we need a full soul.