Friday, Dec 1, 2023
“When The Bumble Lost His Bite”
Hooray! Not only is it Friday but it is also the beginning of the “25 Days of Christmas” hosted by Freeform and other broadcast networks. We can begin watching all of our favorites if we haven’t started already!
In the Christmas Garden at The Chapel, some new faces have emerged this year. One of them is the great “Bumble”, most notably from the claymation story entitled, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964, Rankin/Bass). In the story, The Bumble is the scary snow monster from the north who is trying to eat everyone. (Basically, this is the same monster that Luke Skywalker overcomes in the iconic film, “The Empire Strikes Back”, some 15 years later.)
For those of you in my age group, you know the story of The Bumble. We were raised watching him in the 1970s. Though he was replaced shortly thereafter by Luke Skywalker’s yeti version, we still hold Tthe Bumble in great admiration and memory. During his battle with Rudolph, Yukon Cornelius, Hermey and the other cast of characters, The Bumble eventually turns away from the Dark Side of the Force, aligning himself with Luke (…oops, I mean Rudolph) and eventually claiming his own place in the annals of history.
All this stuff sounds silly, doesn’t it? Maybe it is, but I challenge the reader to view this stuff through another lens. It is through these shows, films, and other programs that we have been led to this moment of nostalgia and memory.
God doesn’t accomplish this stuff by accident. God certainly didn’t force you to read this and God hasn’t forced you to think about something heartfelt, good, and even, theological. God is giving you (and me) free choice to believe what we wish, honor what we want, and pay attention wherever we are interested.
I’ve made my choices and look at where I’ve ended up. Rudolph, Luke, and The Bumble are all part of what has made me the person I am. How are you formed and where is God leading you? Rest assured, it’s a place that will be uncomfortable. But remember this: The Bumble didn’t know what life could be like until he lost his bite. After that, he became part of the family and the rest is history.
What have you lost, gained, or leaned on your road to your present? Whatever the change, you probably can look back and see the good for the hills and mountains along the way. Be encouraged! The uphill climbs have helped shape you even more into the image of God. And, like The Bumble, you, too, are a part of The Family: God’s Family!
“I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, ‘You are my servant.’ For I have chosen you and will not throw you away. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:9-10, NLT)