Reflections on "Valkyrie"

Yesterday my wife, son, and I saw "Valkyrie." Released on Christmas Day, "Valkyrie" is the story of a plot to kill Adolf Hitler shortly after the Allied invasion of Europe in 1944. It's a very good movie, I thought, though very dark, due to the subject matter.

The film reminded me of something. As a child in the shadow of the Second World War, I grew up believing that all Germans were vanquished Nazis. This was the heyday of the Cold War, and generalizations ran rampant amongst us...all Communists are evil, all Asian people are a threat, etc., etc. "Valkyrie" notes a historic truth. Not all Germans were National Socialists, and not all Germans supported Hitler. Many opposed Hitler, silently or overtly, as loyal patriots of Germany. Some, such a Dietrich Bonhoeffer, defied the Third Reich out of total and sole allegiance to the crucified and risen Jesus. In spite of the unspeakable destruction that came out of official Germany, not all Germans were a part of it.

Generalizing people in such a way is a logical fallacy, much less a moral flaw. For those who claim to be followers of Jesus, avoiding generalization is a non-negotiable. That's not always easy. For example, in spite of the horror of 9/11/01, not all people of Islamic faith or background are violent Christian-haters. For Jesus-followers to make generalized negative assessments of any group, nationality, ethnicity, or whatever is to say that those people are not worth the life, death, resurrection, and promised return of God's own Son.

Do any of us really want to make a statement or inference like that where God can hear us?

I'll see you around the next bend in the river...last few days on this year's float!

A Five Minute Gift

Right now we're at our son and daughter-in-law's home, getting ready for Christmas. All of our children are here, both our kids by birth and our children by marriage to our children. Our two-and-a-half year old granddaughter is so wound up she can hardly contain herself. Our newborn granddaughter is two weeks old today; she is a beautiful holiday gift. After over two months of ill health, my wife is much, much improved. Between holding grandchildren and managing the kitchen, she's in her holiday element. The healing she has received is a great gift to all of us.

Later this afternoon we'll attend Christmas Eve services at one of the most dynamic United Methodist churches in the country. By this time tomorrow this house will be a sea of wrapping paper and bows. All of this will pass, though, wonderful and ideal as it all is. As much as we love the trappings of a perfect holiday, there is something that stands alone without all the holiday externals.

Whatever you're doing on Christmas Day, however good it is or however stressful it is, whether you're in a gang of people or alone, whether surrounded by the materialism of the season or in Spartan circumstances, give yourself five minutes of quiet somewhere. In a brief moment of stillness, focus on this - The God of the universe, the originator of the very concept of DNA, the One who sees as a comprehensive whole that which we often see as chaos, chose to exit everything that is God to become one of us. And God did this wholly and completely for you. That can't be contained in any wrapping paper, decorated tree, or string of lights. And it lasts longer, too.

Merry Christmas. I'll see you around the next bend in the river.