diff --git a/app/app.go b/app/app.go
index 3a4dbd0..5e49f2a 100644
--- a/app/app.go
+++ b/app/app.go
@@ -43,11 +43,11 @@ func step(ctx lib.Context, sig <-chan os.Signal) bool {
 	case msg := <-ctx.Mailbox():
 		fmt.Println("message", msg)
 		//ctx.LogDebug("dispatcherStep", m.Map{"msg": msg})
-		if msg == "quit" {
+		if msg.Action() == "quit" {
 			//ctx.LogInfo("Dispatcher stopped", m.Map{})
 			return false
 		}
-		//ctx.HandleMsg(msg)
+		return ctx.HandleMsg(msg)
 	}
 	return true
 }
diff --git a/lib/context/context.go b/lib/context/context.go
index d0ec5b8..11b3a6e 100644
--- a/lib/context/context.go
+++ b/lib/context/context.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package context
 
 import (
 	stdlib_context "context"
+	"fmt"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ func (ctx *context) Config() lib.Config {
 	return ctx.cfg
 }
 
-func (ctx *context) Parent() Context {
+func (ctx *context) Parent() lib.Context {
 	return ctx.parent
 }
 
@@ -52,6 +53,12 @@ func (ctx *context) Mailbox() chan lib.Message {
 	return ctx.mailbox
 }
 
+func (ctx *context) HandleMsg(msg lib.Message) bool {
+	fmt.Println("HandleMsg ", msg)
+	// return 	ctx.Config().MessageHandler()(ctx, msg)
+	return true
+}
+
 func (ctx *context) WaitGroup() *sync.WaitGroup {
 	return ctx.parent.WaitGroup()
 }
diff --git a/lib/lib.go b/lib/lib.go
index 158e8e4..2f1ecf5 100644
--- a/lib/lib.go
+++ b/lib/lib.go
@@ -38,11 +38,14 @@ type Context interface {
 	State() ContextState
 	WithState(ContextState) Context
 	Mailbox() chan Message
+	HandleMsg(Message) bool
 	WaitGroup() *sync.WaitGroup
 	Stop()
 }
 
-type Message interface{}
+type Message interface {
+	Action() string
+}
 
 type Action interface {
 	Context() Context
diff --git a/lib/message/message.go b/lib/message/message.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7048aae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/message/message.go
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+package message
+
+type strMessage string
+
+func (msg strMessage) Action() string {
+	return string(msg)
+}
+
+func StrMessage(action string) strMessage {
+	return strMessage(action)
+}
diff --git a/testing/testing.go b/testing/testing.go
index 39105cc..f8b210b 100644
--- a/testing/testing.go
+++ b/testing/testing.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/app"
 	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/lib"
 	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/lib/context"
+	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/lib/message"
 )
 
 func Start(ctx lib.Context) {
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ func (t *T) TearDownApp() {
 	// give actors time to recieve all messages:
 	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
 	//t.Check()
-	t.Ctx.Services()["testing"].Mailbox() <- "quit"
+	t.Ctx.Services()["testing"].Mailbox() <- message.StrMessage("quit")
 	fmt.Println("teardown ", t.Ctx.WaitGroup())
 	t.Ctx.WaitGroup().Wait()
 	//t.AssertNoUncheckedMessages()
diff --git a/tests/scopes_test.go b/tests/scopes_test.go
index 386cb34..7beb6eb 100644
--- a/tests/scopes_test.go
+++ b/tests/scopes_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ func TestConfig(tb *tbase.T) {
 func TestingTest(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := t.Ctx
 	fmt.Println(ctx.Services())
+	t.AssertEqual(len(ctx.Services()), 2)
 }
 
 func ConfigTest(t *testing.T) {