There's Room for Everyone!

While our dear friend, Sarah, from Oregon was in town for my 30th year celebration, we were talking one night and sharing our love for the 1977 Walt Disney film, Pete’s Dragon.  If you have not seen the movie or have forgotten the story, Elliott is a magical and sometimes mischievous dragon who causes chaos in a Maine fishing village. It is there that Elliot tries to help a young orphan called Pete escape from his evil foster parents. All Pete wants is to live in the lighthouse with Nora and her father and know that he belongs.  

With Pete’s Dragon being a musical and filled with an all-star cast, it is hard not to get caught up in the story and feel for each of the characters. It also is filled with important lessons, like how finding family can come in unexpected places, the importance of imaginative and outdoor play, and seeing the good in others. 

As Sarah and I talked about our love for the movie and listened to the soundtrack (which I have in its original form on vinyl), we stopped to listen more closely to one particular song. This song seemed appropriate for our world’s current condition and spoke to us. The song is called There’s Room for Everyone and is sung by Helen Reddy and Sean Marshall.  At first it seems the song is specifically talking about Elliot the dragon’s desire to belong, but as the song continues it transitions to a much deeper meaning. Just look at the second half of the song’s lyrics.  

…There's room for everyone in this world

Back up and make some room

Let's all move over and share this world

Everyone make some room…

…There's room for everyone in this world

Will everyone make some room

Love given freely can spare this world

Let friendly feelings bloom

Just give an inch, give a yard, never flinch

When the time comes to offer a hand

So, let's all make sure we give everyone somewhere to stand

Let's all make sure we give everyone somewhere to stand

Just the way God planned it

Just the way God planned

Obviously, the deeper meaning of this song was about persuading the community to make room for the "stranger" who needs friendship and a place to belong. It reminds me of Hebrews 13:2 – Don’t forget to extend your hospitality to all—even to strangers—for as you know, some have unknowingly shown kindness to heavenly messengers in this way. (Voice)   And yes, the song is right…it is “just the way God planned it.”  

Won’t you join me this week in making some room for someone?