The Monster At The End of this Book

Have you ever read, The Monster at the End of this Book? It is a Sesame Street book. I read it as a kid and so did John Mark. We have read it to our kids and they think it is hilarious. They just shriek at the chance to turn the page.

I started thinking about this, probably more than I should have, but if you know the story, it is about Grover from Sesame Street and he is scared about everything. He does not want you to turn the page because he does not want to get to the end of the book. He "seals" up the pages with bricks and ropes and all sorts of things to try to get you not to turn the page. At the very end, and sorry to ruin it for you if you haven't read it, Grover, himself, is the monster at the end of book. What a terrible realization that you are what you have feared all along. Should he have feared the monster? Maybe, but he decides he's just furry, loveable, old Grover and he was really embarrassed to discover that it was him all along!

Now let's think about that for a minute. How often have you wanted to seal up the pages of the book not wanting to discover what is at the end? You are fearful of the monster at the end. Are we the monsters at the end of the book causing the fear all along? Are we fearful that someone else might discover what's at the end of the book and not like it? I know I have felt this way so much. I feel like if someone really truly got to know me that they might not like what they see. I might not be so furry and loveable! I might be just downright despicable to them.

As I ponder this silly little children's book, I realize that it has more meaning than meets the eye. I, in the end, am what I fear. hmmm. . .

What about you?