“Thomas! Stop telling me what to do! You are a very bossy engine!” – Billy, “Don’t Be Silly Billy”
Many fans of the wholesome television adaptation series, “Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends”, know that Billy has earned himself a reputation as a very annoying locomotive character. But why?
“Don’t Be Silly Billy” is an episode of Season 11 (which was part of the Hit Entertainment model era). Thomas must look after a new engine named Billy. Unfortunately, Billy refuses to listen to Thomas, as he thinks he is “bossy”; he loses his patience just for being reminded to take on more coal and water. Thomas gradually loses his patience with Billy also, but nevertheless tries to help him still. Meanwhile, Billy is so upset with Thomas that he forgets about his jobs as he tries to get away from the latter. Finally, the fifth time that Billy calls Thomas “a really bossy engine” (see the quote above), Thomas, not liking being called bossy for being helpful, finally leaves Billy to his own devices. Billy likes the idea, but it quickly turns to disaster as he runs out of coal and water! Thomas, regretting letting Billy go, explains to him that those who give him advice are not being bossy; they care about him and wish to help him. Finally, Billy listens to Thomas, gets more coal and water, and does all of his jobs right. In the end, Billy is thankful to Thomas for trying to give him advice, and says that he wasn’t “bossy” for trying to help him.
However, I like most of this episode, and I think Billy’s scenario reminds me of real life, to an extent. This episode appears to mirror a beautiful, yet sad, truth about The Catholic Faith. When God does give us admonitions and inspirations, aren’t we sometimes thinking that we know better? God does not give up on us, but if we continue to reject His Grace and His warnings, then God will permit us to “do whatever [we] want”, and to fall as a result of our pride. Hopefully, this humiliation will draw us to love God more, and to repentance. But God will leave an incorrigible sinner to his own devices if he does not repent. May God deliver us from this terrible fate, which is a gateway to eternal damnation!
If, however, we cooperate with God’s call and return to do His Holy and Adorable Will, then He will clean us up from our fall, and give us the grace necessary to carry on like a faithful Christian soldier. God often permits us to fall in our own weaknesses often for the very purpose of humbling us, and helping us to know ourselves.
I really love how the older Thomas adventures had beautiful morals along with them, and this is especially true for the first few seasons (and the original stories of the Railway Series published by Wilbert Awdry)! For one thing, this episode is far more wholesome than the modern rubbish given to us by the “Big World! Big Adventures!” era or the “All Engines Go!” reboot.
Sources
“Don’t Be Silly Billy” – Thomas and Friends, Season 11.
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