Hi, my name is Dan. I'm in recovery from an addiction to
pornography. When I was a kid, my
favorite Dr. Seuss book was The Lorax. I
guess it's still my favorite Dr. Seuss book.
I've always loved the sadness in that one word "unless" and
all the unspoken potential for the future.
The emotion at the end of the book is so strong to me. Obviously, I was really excited when I found
out there was going to be a movie version created for the book. The rest of this post contains spoilers, so
if you haven't seen the movie yet, I told you so. As I said, the book ends with the Truffula
Forest in ruins and all the animals have gone away to try to find a new home. The Once-ler is left alone and the Lorax
lifts himself up and away through a hole in the clouds. Well, the movie is quite different from the
book, but the key elements are still there.
But the movie takes the story to the next step. The Once-ler realized he had done wrong and
hurt many in his casual disregard for those around him. But he couldn't fix the problems he caused in
his selfishness and pride by himself. He
was isolated and alone, surrounded by the ruins of his past and there was no
way he could ever reverse the effects of his actions. But he reached outside himself and asked for
help. Only then was he able to change
and see his life and the world around him change. At the very end the boy, Ted, is able to
rally support from the town and plant the last Truffula seed despite the
intense opposition. At the very very
end, the Once-ler is shown caring for some very small Truffula seedlings and
the ravaging effects of pollution are beginning to dissipate. And then something amazing happens.
The Lorax comes back.
He comes back to the Once-ler and
they hug. The Lorax forgives the
Once-ler for all the destruction and devastation he caused.
In many ways, I am like the
Once-ler. My selfish and prideful addictions
have caused destruction and devastation all around me. I was isolated and depressed harrowed up by
my sins and all the pain from the ruins of my past. When I came to myself, I knew there was no
way I could fix it alone. I finally reached
outside myself and asked for help. That
help was readily available. And something
amazing happened. I began to feel the
love of my Savior and His forgiveness. I
was able to begin forgiving myself and seeking the forgiveness of others. Every time I see or even think about the
Lorax hugging the Once-ler, I get this overwhelming feeling of love as if I'm
the Once-ler and I'm being forgiven for my horrible, terrible sins. And I usually cry. The first time, I was seeing the movie in the
theater with my family. I was sitting
there bawling as everyone around us left.
What a weirdo, I know. But I
couldn't help myself.
The Love of Jesus Christ is so
real. It's so palpable. And it's so available to all of us. We just have to reach out for it.
