Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, now thru these eyes
For probably the 40th time, or more, I'm sitting at home watching the CBS Christmas classic Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. This amazing TV show debuted in 1964 and today is the longest running annual Christmas special on TV. I have vivid memories of watching this as a boy, with my sisters in the family home, sneaking a peek as a teenager, watching with my 1st child, then my 2nd and even in recent times. Tonight I watch it all alone and am picking up on some amazing themes I've missed through the years.
When the classic song, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, was first recorded around 1949, after first being a story developed 10 years earlier, there was no Sam the Snowman, Herbie the dental elf, the Abominable Snowman, not even the island of misfit toys. Yet with all these amazing additions, the TV holiday special is timeless and classic and delights young and old alike, some 47 years later.
In this classic, we are taught lessons about accepting others as they are, the consequences of being made fun of, the selfless sacrifice of others on our behalf and how love and acceptance is a source of great happiness and joy.
I love the Island off Misfit Toys. Many of us may be misfit toys, or we know those misfit toys in our lives. But truly, when we accept them for who they are, we learn how important we can be to each other. Even when Rudolph and his friends arrive at the Island, they ask the toy king if they can stay with the misfit toys. They are told no, because the king tells them, basically, no man is an island. Living things must live the life given to them as a free and total gift.
We have the lesson of Sam the Snowman, the voice of the amazing Burl Ives, singing a song called Silver and Gold, and the value of such things over real value. It reminds me of that amazing story in the Gospel, in Acts, where Peter tells the lame begar, gold and silver I have not, but what I have I give you, Jesus Christ; go therefore and walk!
In the most dramatic scene when the monster snowman appears ready to eradicate our heroes, one Yukon Cornelius comes to their aid and saves them, apparently giving his all in the encounter. No greater love; laying down one's life for another. Of course all would be well in the end as Yukon did not kill the beast; rather he converted him and he lived!
Finally, as we all know so well, at the height of the greatest snowstorm ever, that same Rudolph, seemingly deemed an outcast because of a disability, instead used that disability to save Christmas. How many times in our lives, by the grace of God, have we seen seemingly ordinary, and sometimes marginalized people, do extraordinary things!
Rudolph with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight?
On this Advent Tuesday, still some 4 weeks from Christmas, may we allow the true light of our lives, Jesus Christ, to guide not our sleighs but our whole lives!
And Go ahead and plan a holly, jolly Christmas this year!
When the classic song, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, was first recorded around 1949, after first being a story developed 10 years earlier, there was no Sam the Snowman, Herbie the dental elf, the Abominable Snowman, not even the island of misfit toys. Yet with all these amazing additions, the TV holiday special is timeless and classic and delights young and old alike, some 47 years later.
In this classic, we are taught lessons about accepting others as they are, the consequences of being made fun of, the selfless sacrifice of others on our behalf and how love and acceptance is a source of great happiness and joy.
I love the Island off Misfit Toys. Many of us may be misfit toys, or we know those misfit toys in our lives. But truly, when we accept them for who they are, we learn how important we can be to each other. Even when Rudolph and his friends arrive at the Island, they ask the toy king if they can stay with the misfit toys. They are told no, because the king tells them, basically, no man is an island. Living things must live the life given to them as a free and total gift.
We have the lesson of Sam the Snowman, the voice of the amazing Burl Ives, singing a song called Silver and Gold, and the value of such things over real value. It reminds me of that amazing story in the Gospel, in Acts, where Peter tells the lame begar, gold and silver I have not, but what I have I give you, Jesus Christ; go therefore and walk!
In the most dramatic scene when the monster snowman appears ready to eradicate our heroes, one Yukon Cornelius comes to their aid and saves them, apparently giving his all in the encounter. No greater love; laying down one's life for another. Of course all would be well in the end as Yukon did not kill the beast; rather he converted him and he lived!
Finally, as we all know so well, at the height of the greatest snowstorm ever, that same Rudolph, seemingly deemed an outcast because of a disability, instead used that disability to save Christmas. How many times in our lives, by the grace of God, have we seen seemingly ordinary, and sometimes marginalized people, do extraordinary things!
Rudolph with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight?
On this Advent Tuesday, still some 4 weeks from Christmas, may we allow the true light of our lives, Jesus Christ, to guide not our sleighs but our whole lives!
And Go ahead and plan a holly, jolly Christmas this year!
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