The Value of Rudolph from a Victim of Bullying

Tonight one of my favorite Christmas specials comes on, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer."  There has be a lot of complaining and suggestions to boycott it because it "advocates bullying."  As a victim of bullying, myself, I think that these people are missing the main point of the story.

Yes, Rudolph and Hermie are bullied for being different, even by Santa, but that isn't the point of the story.  The point is learning to value each individual for their unique gifts.  It is a journey for the misfits to find their own worth AND for the bullies to realize they were wrong.  By the end of the film everyone who had bullied the misfits realize their error, are truly repentant, apologize, and recognize the value of each individual's gift.

That is what I dreamed of as a child.  I didn't dream that the bullies would be punished, but that they would see how great I was and accept me for who I am.  Rudolph gave me hope that if everyone at the North Pole could realize their mistakes, maybe my tormentors would, too.

Now a word about the well meaning parents and advocates that want to protect their children from stories like this one.  They are doing exactly what the King did on the Island of Misfit toys.  They are separating and isolating their children to "protect them from the cruelty of the world."  Their hearts may be in the right place, but that isn't what a child needs.  Yes, the misfit toys were protected from being made fun of, but they never were able to fulfill their potential as toys.  They were never loved, played with, and accepted for who they were.

In the end, Santa who had inadvertently bullied and misunderstood the value of each unique individual repents.  He finds the beauty in each toy, elf, and reindeer, and even a Bumble.  Then, he helps them find the place where they can grow and thrive.

I believe that this is a wonderful story about acceptance, repentance, and forgiveness.  It is a story of hope for those who feel different and put down.  It is a story of the little guy winning.  In that it is a valuable parable. 

It is said those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.  I also think that those who are protected and sheltered from the meanness in the world 1. won't know how to deal with it.  and 2. are at risk of bullying others because they haven't been shown examples of how wrong and hurtful words and actions can be.

I plan to continue to watch Rudolph, and as I showed it to my children, I will show it to my grandchildren, as a parable about how we are each beautiful and unique children of God.

Have a blessed Christmas.

Holding on for a Hero - A Geeks of Faith Advent Devotion

This week is the first week of Advent.  Advent is the start of the Christian year.  It is a time of waiting.  We are waiting for Christmas and the Christ Child to be born.  But the scriptures for this first week also remind us that we are waiting for Christ to return.

          I find it interesting that in the past year both DC and Marvel have dealt with the death of some of our favorite heroes in their movies.  DC dealt with the death of Superman and Marvel killed at least half of their heroes in Infinity War.  Now those of us familiar with comic books know that the hero will somehow come back whether in the story itself like in “Death of Superman” and “Infinity War” or in the next reboot or some Elseworld story. 

          But it still makes us sad.  How many of you cried when Superman died (or at least at the funeral scene) or when Thanos used the Infinity Gauntlet?  The characters in the movie don’t know that the hero is coming back.  All they know is that the one who gave hope in a dark and hopeless situation is dead and they don’t know where to turn.

          I don’t think it is coincidence that both these movies came out in the past couple of years.  Our society seems out of control.  There seems to be evil around every corner.  Everyone is looking for a hero or some way back to a safer world.

          That is the whole theme of Advent.  The world was so messed up that the Jews were praying for a Messiah, a savior to get them out of the horrors of the world.  That Savior was born in a manger 2000 years ago.  But just like in our movies, the world killed him.  Jesus was crucified at the hands of the corrupt Roman government at the urging of his own religious leaders.  For Jesus’ followers this was devastating.  Fortunately they only had to wait three days for him to come back.

          But Jesus didn’t stay.  Jesus had to go back into heaven and left us here to carry on for him.  But unlike in the movies Jesus promised to return.  Luke 21:25-28 is part of the scriptures for the first Sunday in Advent.  Listen to what it says:  “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. ²⁶ People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. ²⁸ Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

          For Christians Jesus’ return is the best news ever.  No matter how scary the book of Revelation makes it sound it is good news for us.  Jesus tells us to stand up and raise our heads because our redemption is drawing near.  We will be rescued from the evil world.

          Unfortunately we have to wait more than the month that we have to wait for the next issue of the comic book to come out, and even more than the year or so that we have to wait for a movie sequel.  Yes, Jesus promised to return, but it has been 2000 years.  Sometimes it can be hard to wait.  Some people give up hope and turn their back on their faith.  It is hard to believe in God triumphing in the end when evil seems to win so often.

          The important part is what we do while we wait.  Advent reminds us that we need to continue to hope.  Jesus will keep his promise and come back to rescue us.  While we wait we need to be the agents of hope.

          When Superman died in the movie, Batman pulled together Wonder Woman, Aqua Man, Flash, and Cyborg to keep fighting against evil.  Ok, I know we don’t have the powers of the Justice League.  So, how about this instead;  In the movie “Spiderman” when the Green Goblin tries to kill Spiderman while he is rescuing Mary Jane and a Gondola full of school children the people of New York rally and begin throwing things at Green Goblin to distract him enough for Spidey to save everyone.  They had no super powers but as the man said, “You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us.”

          While we wait for Jesus’ return we are called to do what he would do.  Stand up for what is right, protect the innocent, seek justice, be kind.  Shine Jesus’ light in our dark world.  Give them the hope that we know.  When it seems that the heavens are being shaken by the evil in the world hold on to hope and look up.  Jesus is coming.