More Truth Than You Know

If you look closely you will be able to detect hints and whispers of the gospel's Christmas even in the classic shows that are broadcast on television. I doubt if it is done on purpose except possibly in the case of the Charlie Brown Christmas special. There seems to be a universal longing for the the good, better and best in people and situations that is sorely lacking. You see this lacking, this missing, this discontent, and the mournful in Christmas shows and cartoons. I know you aren't following me yet so consider the island of misfit toys from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the Christmas tree in Charlie Brown's special, the broken down old building and loan from It's a Wonderful Life, and the Grinch's heart in the Dr. Seuss re-telling of a Scrooge-type character. Now you're starting to see it. In every good Christmas story there is something wrong, broken, missing, abandoned or downright mean messing up an otherwise orderly life. Further, you could plug these stories into the gospel and end up in a good place or better, plug the gospel into these stories and end up in a better place. What if the Shepherds in the gospel of Luke were played by the toys from the island of misfit toys in Rudolph the RNR? The shepherds were regarded as misfits. So the Charlie-in-the-Box, Hermey the Misfit Elf (remember, he wanted to be a dentist), the spotted elephant, bird-fish(the bird who swam)and Cowboy(he had to ride an ostrich) could find their place in the gospel story. Which means, of course, that all of us who have misfit ways, different dreams, and move through life never at the pace the world thinks we should move, find our rhythm in worshipping Jesus. Following this leading, the broken down old building and loan from It's a Wonderful Life could play the stable and manger in our re-telling of the gospel. George Bailey struggled with that old business most of his life. It kept him from bigger dreams and traveling to exotic places. Yet, in the end it held the town together and helped many others find their home in a world run by the old men Potters who could have cared less. No doubt the owner of the stable thought little of his stable but God thought enough of it to make His entrance there. Most of us spend our days wondering if we really make any real difference. One day we will know and we will see not through a glass darkly but through the Light of the World shined on those old things we thought kept us from a wonderful life. Then we will see that it was those very things that God used to advance His kindom and agenda in ways we could never imagine. All good stories have an antagonist. In Matthew's gospel you meet King Herod, who, was not unlike the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. The Grinch had a heart that was two sizes too small. Many question if Herod had a heart at all. Much heartache was caused by Herod. He had his own two sons executed as he thought them wanting his throne. At his death he had two popular Jewish teachers and their students burned to death to insure there would be someone mourning at the time of his own death.Then there is the death of the innocents in Bethlehem. But history tells us that within 4 years of Jesus' birth, he was no more. So we don't celebrate "Herod-mas" and don't so much as name our dogs after him. Evil exists. Sometimes, like with the Grinch, it repents and changes. In Herod's case, his evil died with him. There is plenty of evil left in the world but we know from Herod, Hitler, Ahab, Pilate, Nero, Domitian, and any other despot that they die. One day we will add Osama bin Laden and Robert Mugabe to the list. Someone else will pick up where they left off. One day God will take evil off every one's list. Our Christmas list will be much easier then and our hearts will be big enough to fill it. Admittedly, finding a place for Charlie Brown's scraggly little bent-over tree has been harder to plug into the story of Christ's birth from the gospels. Misfits, Grinches, Building and Loans, yes. But where does the left over Christmas tree come in? Then I figured it out. That's me. That's where I plug into the story. God's not through decorating me yet. I won't stand still enough some time to let Him work. I keep dropping ornaments and breaking them. But God is relentless. He just doesn't stop working. And if you have been bent out of shape, lost your needles, felt like you didn't grow like everyone else, abandoned at the back of the lot, and in general felt unloved, then the Christmas story is what you most need to hear. To the misfits, in out-of-the-way places, in spite of Grinches, God shows up to love those needing it the most. And the last time I checked, that includes everyone. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God... John 1:12 Merry Christmas 2008 Terry