Rudolph With Your Nose so Bright

Romans 2:12
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

This post first appeared on Meditations of My Heart in December of 2012.  As I have many new and amazing followers here at the blog, God prompted me to share this Christmas cheer with you all once again.  Enjoy!

To those of you who regularly visit Meditations of My Heart, this confession may come as a bit of a surprise - I love watching Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer every year at Christmas.  It's been one of my favorites since I was a girl (yes, the show is older than dirt - lol!).  Why?  Because it's a heartwarming story with a Christian message.

What???  Really?  Surely, you must be joking, Martha!  It's a story about Santa and reindeer, the North Pole and elves, jingle bells and ho, ho, ho.  Where is Jesus in THAT?

I'll tell you.

First, I see the Lord in the willingness of both Rudolph and Yukon Cornelius to sacrifice their own lives for their friends.  Did Jesus not say, "Greater love has no one than this:  to lay down one's life for one's friends."  (John 15:13)  And in His great, infinite, wondrous love for us, did Jesus not make the ultimate sacrifice when He hung on the cross?  Bore the sins of everyone - you and me?  Died that we might be free?  Risen that we might have everlasting life in Him?

That similarity alone in Rudolph's story would be enough to argue in favor of a Christian message.  But there's more.

Rudolph, with his nose too bright, and Hermey, the elf who would rather be a dentist than make toys, are misfits.  They are persecuted and shunned by their friends and family.  But instead of conforming to the demands of the society in which they live, Rudolf and Hermey decide to be "independent together."  They leave the North Pole and set out to make their own way in this world.

As Christians, who are in the world but not of it, don't we all have a bit of the misfit in us, too?  Aren't we often scorned and ridiculed by those who consider themselves wise in worldly ways?

And wasn't Jesus considered a misfit by the Pharasees and teachers of the Law?  Certainly, our Lord did not fit any religious mold considered righteous by the establishment.  Instead, they declared Him a blasphemer, and turned Him over to the Roman authorities.  We know the rest of that story . . .

No, being a misfit isn't safe.  But when it's for Jesus' sake, it is worth everything.

On the Island of Misfit Toys, King Moonracer tells Rudolf and his friends, "A toy is never truly happy until it is loved by a child."  That very Christmas, Santa collects all those sad, not cherished toys and delivers them to boys and girls who will love and appreciate them.  The very boys and girls who will make them happy forever.

And isn't it the same with us?  We can never be truly happy until we understand how much we are loved by God.  Misfits, in all our brokenness and frailties, trials and troubles, loved.  By the King of the Universe.

Loved!

Unconditionally.

And because of this incomparable love, like Rudolph leading Santa's team through the murky fog, his red nose glowing, we can shine God's light into the darkness.  Bringing hope to others.  Showing them where true joy and happiness begin.

Misfits, you and I.

We can lead the way.

Amen!