Acts 9:36,39 — Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. …Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
My “Christmas” devotions for the next two days might be a little down, if the thoughts I’ve been given for now don’t change. They might even be better called reflections … but Monday feels like an upturn is coming … anyway, it’s what I’ve got. Make of it what you will.
Last night Myra and I watched the best Christmas movie of all time. It’s left me feeling a little sad, because I don’t think it could be made nowadays … and if it got made, I’m not sure how popular it would be.
The movie, of course, was “It’s A Wonderful Life”, surely Hollywood’s greatest Christmas gift to us all, released on Christmas Day, 1946.
For readers under (say) 50 — in case I have any that young: The story is of an ordinary man (George Bailey, played wonderfully by Jimmy Stewart) who is deprived by his own generous nature, and by the twists of circumstances, from following his dreams. Instead he spends his life working to help his friends and neighbors by running the Bailey Building and Loan Association, marrying a wonderful wife and raising four sweet children. Things go terribly wrong and George is driven to contemplate suicide when his absent-minded Uncle Billy misplaces $8,000 of the Building and Loan’s money causing George to be suspected of fraud. Against all expectations, George’s neighbors and friends rally round and make up the deficit, and all ends well.
So what’s the point? George Bailey’s friends and neighbors didn’t value him because he was a hero, a superstar, a business genius … or even a spiritual giant. They valued him because he was an ordinary decent guy, doing his best to make things better around him.
I was reminded of Tabitha — Dorcas — who was loved by her friends for her day-to-day kindnesses. Another one who, for all we can tell, was not a hero, a warrior … or even a spiritual giant.
Do you think the studios today would have bought that story? If they bought the story how many people would rush out to see it or put it at the top of their Netflix queue? This is the day of the star … the cult of the personality rules. We even have Christian “stars”. Wonder how that would have struck Jesus? Wasn’t there something about the first being last, and the last being first? I’m thinking that Jesus picked the guests for the nativity … and He loved shepherds and wasn’t that impressed by kings. I bet Tabitha gets a place at the high table for the wedding feast too. But I don’t think many people think that way today. Sad, isn’t it?