A Few Thoughts in Response to
Humpty Dumpty's Great Fall

When I first heard of it, I was both shocked and saddened by the news. He had always struck me as a fellow with so much potential. But what concerned me most was his condition afterwards. If only there were something one could say to help him get it together again.

A friend in the Royal Guard told me several versions, and you can't help but believe there's a smattering of truth in at least one variation of the story. Humpty Dumpty had had a great fall all right. Worst of all, no one in the kingdom could be found to piece him back together again. Surely if he'd been a little more hard boiled, he wouldn't have made such a mess of it. But then, that's another story.

Here are a few of the explanations making rounds these days in the tea rooms and cabinet meetings of the Royal Castle.

Sir Gordon said Humpty was playing around on top of a wall and, whoops! Splat. It was a foolish accident -- one of those really stupid kinds -- and now Humpty is feeling sorry for himself. It's nothing more than a wretched turn of events for which he is simply unable, or unwilling, to forgive himself.

Sir Ben presented a more grave perspective, however. It was wrong of Humpty to be on that wall because, well, that particular wall is "you know where" and, well, God punished him for being there. Humpty fell because God willed it. How can the fellow forgive himself when God Himself gave the shove that toppled him over the edge?

Sir William outlined an alternative position. The devil, not God, was responsible for Humpty's fall. It should be noted that Humpty is an especally careful sort and therefore he must have been pushed against his will. He was still guilty of trespassing, however, and just won't forgive himself for being where he knows he ought not to have been.

Sir Carlton, knowing a few rather confidential details of Humpty's personal life, put a more ominous spin on it, suggesting that it would not be totally out of line to suspect that Humpty may have even jumped! "Propriety keeps me from sharing too intimately," Sir Carlton allegedly asserted, "but I know he's been rather distraught about some things as of late. Now this! It's a real tragedy."



"What can we do? Let the poor egg fry?" Sir Godfrey lamented that evening over stew and cakes.

The solution to Humpty's dilemma seemed so obvious to me that I wondered why no one had brought it up. "Does it really matter HOW Humpty got into the mess he's in?" I asked.

"It seems the nut of it," Sir Godfrey replied.

"Here," I said as I handed him my old leather bound Bible. "Read Psalm 107. Is it as obvious to you as it is to me?"

He read quietly, and I could tell he was moved by it as I have always been. When he finished reading, he closed the book and lay it on the table. "Yes, brother Ed, those are the words our friend needs to hear. And you're right. It really doesn't matter how he got so scrambled up. Whether it was an accident or out of rebellion or foolishness or a deliberate act of self-destruction, the remedy is the same. If he would but call out to God, He will hear. These are powerful words. And yes, God is certainly good."

I opened the book and read aloud the last words of this wonderful passage, "Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord."

"You think Humpty will listen?"

"He might," I said.

Sir Godfrey smiled. "As long as there is God," he affirmed, "there is hope." As an afterthought he added, "We can always pray for him, too, you know."

Now it was my turn to agree.

After a brief prayer, we leaped to our feet, girded up our swords and headed off to find our dear friend Humpty, confident that we had something to truly help him in his time of need.


copyright 1994 ed newman
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an original story by ed newman

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