Wait, Wait ... I Know This One

Isaiah 42:9 -- "See, the things said before have come about, and now I give word of new things: before they come I give you news of them."

 A Christmas Story/notable.ca

As each line is flawlessly delivered my mouth moves along with the actors on the screen. And though I've seen this film at least a thousand times, I laugh on que, I cry near the end, and I have that warm fuzzy feeling all over when the credits start to roll. 

Every year as the Christmas season starts to get a good momentum built up I slow things down by watching a few of my favorite films. True, the guys don't watch them with me on account of them bein' chick flicks and all - but each precious movie drums up some wonderful memories with some awesome friends and fellow MK's. [Missionary Kids].

As Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen dance around to the tune of "Sisters" I smile from the top of my head down to my holiday painted toe-nails because I remember when the Hawkins girls, my sister, and I put on a reenactment of the song for our parents. It was quite the production.

It's  Christmas Charlie Brown/huffingtonpost.com

As Bridget Jones goes all bug-eyed when she realizes her dear Mr. Darcey has seen the ramblings in her diary I still cover my mouth with my hands and whisper "oh no!"

And I can't leave out the shriek of triumph that erupts from my lips when a certain Prime Minister gets home from business abroad and enters Heathrow Airport. I cheer as his girlfriend leaps up into his arms - overjoyed that he's made it back home. In that moment on film - I really DO believe that Love, Actually DOES exist all around us!

These films, along with some of my favorite books, hold cherished stories that I love to revisit every single year. It doesn't matter that I know the ending or that I know every single scene change and character by heart. They are wonderful experiences. They STILL inspire. As Garth Brooks so romantically put it - I don't want to miss the dance - even though I know how it all unfolds.

It's A Wonderful Life/huffingtonpost.com

There are moments in my life when I get lazy about the zeal I should have for Jesus. I take for granted that I know the ending of this tale and sometimes neglect to fight - simply because I know this battle is already won. But each note played, every beat and cadence to the lyrics won't fill out the sheet music in melodious victory if all of us decline to play our part in this orchestra. Yes, we know how it ends. We know that Jesus died in the end and then rose again to claim victory over death. We know that one day we will see him when he calls us each home to be with him. But in the mean time - we can STILL inspire. There are wonderful experiences out there we might miss if we sit on the side lines. And even more importantly - how will others have the opportunity to enjoy the music if we don't ask them to dance?