Bobby Griffith

I clearly remember that line from the Bridge Over the River Kwai, as Sir Alec Guinness’ character looks at the foolishness of his helping the Japanese army. Today, I was thinking about the significance of tonight and the Christmas season in general.

First of all, it seems my life course has taken on many, many different turns than I expected 10 and even 5 years ago. I did not expect to “want” to be in vocational, ordained ministry. Ten years ago, I wanted to be an Account Executive for the Oklahoman newspaper and retire at age 55 with a nice nestegg. Five years ago, I wanted to be a thinker and professor of Church History. Today, I still want to finish the academic side of things, but, honestly, find it to be less fulfilling than expected, though thoroughly enjoyable.

But about tonight. It will be only the second Christmas Eve service I’ve attended, but this one I am attending as the assistant pastor and will be an officiant of the communion service. This changes everything. All the “regular” things people do like drive/fly hundreds of miles to see family at Christmastime is irrelevant for Jennifer and I. More than likely tonight is the beginning of (hopefully) decades of Christmas Eve services with a beautiful communion liturgy.

One of my fellow pastor buddies, who’s a bit younger than I had this for his facebook status: Pastors don’t get Holidays off. He’s right and I think it’s the coolest thing about the position - you get to be there to serve at the most important time of the year. For many of our parishoners, tonight is one of the highlights of the year and I have the honor of helping to serve them this year. I couldn’t think of a more beautiful thing.

So what have I done? I think Jennifer and I have just begun to embark on something new, exciting and amazing. Hank Hill once said about Grillstraviganza, “every one is different, but they all turn out the same.” I feel this way about Christmastime now. They’re all going to be different, but, God willing, they will turn out the same. I doubt I’ll look back and say “what have I done” with any regrets. This is simply exciting!

Rambling below…

I’ve commented before that often people take comfort and safety in their externalities - whatever those may be. Since I work in the realm of Christian ministry, the bulk of what I see are people who take comfort in things they do. Sometimes it manifests itself in a way that is very hurtful. For instance, one may take pride in the fact they “don’t do this” like “those” people do. All that will do is just cause further problems.

This week, I read Tim Keller’s the Prodigal God and it was great. I was skeptical with the title, but since prodigal means something to the effect of “lavish spender” and not wayward, I thought Keller does a great job demonstrating how God reaches out and outspends and outloves people who don’t deserve it.

That is all for the night.

So Oklahoma wins the Big 12 championship for the third year in a row and heads to the BCS championship for the fourth time this decade.

My request. Don’t blow it, boys. I can’t bear to hear the word “chokelahoma” any longer.