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Farewell, Mr. Hooper
A lot of us were influenced by Sesame Street as we grew up. We learned the alphabet, how to count, what is near or far, and so much more. Most of what we learned were just basic things. One day, Sesame Street dealt with something bigger—something harder. They dealt with death.
In 1983, one of the adult actors died. Will Lee, who played Mr. Hooper, had been an important part of the show and was one of four original live actors on a show full of muppets. Muppet performers can be replaced. It isn’t too hard to find someone who can mimic a voice. Real people, on the other hand, aren’t as easy to replace. They could have said Mr. Hooper had moved away. They could have had a new store owner and never dealt with where the old one had gone. Instead, the writers and cast chose to tackle the issue head on.
In the episode, “Farewell, Mr. Hooper,” Big Bird has drawn pictures of all his friends and is handing them out to everyone. He is left with a portrait of Mr. Hooper and wants to give it to him. The adults look at each other uncomfortably and then one says, “Big Bird, don’t you remember, he died. He’s dead.”
Big Bird nodded. “Oh yeah. I remember.” He cheers up. “Well, I’ll give it to him when he comes back.”
Another adult stands and offers comfort. “Big Bird,” she says, “Mr. Hooper is not coming back. When people die, they don’t come back.”
“Ever?” Big Bird asks sadly.
“No. Not ever.”
Others explain to Big Bird that everything will be okay. Someone else will take care of the store and make milk shakes for him and look after him. It will be okay. We have our memories of Mr. Hooper and can be thankful for the time we had with him, but he isn’t coming back. Big Bird is sad and doesn’t like it. “Someone give me one good reason why it has to be this way.” The only answer anyone can give him is, “Because.”
That was a heavy scene to take in for a child. It’s a hard topic for anyone, but look at how much sadder it is for those who have no hope. There is no return. No reunion. All we have left are pictures, memories, sadness, and no reasons.
This is not the answer the Bible gives. “We do not want you to be uninformed brethren about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus” (I Thes. 4:13-14). Big Bird, sometimes the dead do come back! Jesus did. So will all of those who follow Him (I Thes. 4:16) and one day we will be back together and that time, it will be forever (I Thes. 4:17). What a difference it is when we can tell our children that death is not the end and that there is a better place for our loved ones and for ourselves.
As for the reason something as awful as death happens, we have been given a better answer for that too. It isn’t something that just happens “because.” Death happens because one man sinned (Rom. 5:12; 6:23). It is an awful thing. It is the enemy (I Cor. 15:26). Fortunately, Jesus has conquered both sin and death. We have something to look forward to.
“Therefore, comfort one another with these words” (I Thes. 4:18).
