Lessons From Clark W. Griswold - Episode 3

In the movie, Christmas Vacation (not for the kids), Clark's extended family reunion is crashed by his obnoxious cousin. The cousin, Eddie, arrives at Clark's house in a beat up old RV with his wife and two small children. Eddie and his family will be staying at Clark's over Christmas but Clark comes to realize that due to Eddie's poor handling of finances no Christmas gifts are prepared for the children on Christmas day.

The soft hearted Clark graciously approaches Eddie for permission to purchase Christmas gifts for the kids. Eddie feigns surprise but then pulls out of his pocket a 'wish list' for his kids, having fully anticipated his cousin's generosity. To top it all off, Eddie says 'and get yourself something really niiiiccee'. The viewer can't help but chuckle at the absurdity of Eddie's proposal, panhandling a relative to purchase a Christmas gift for that relative funded by the relative but 'from' the panhandler!

I recently read a comment in a news magazine where the conservative political movement was prophetically criticised. The critic stated that the natural result of a conservative political philosophy would be selfishness. I can't help but wonder if American liberalism doesn't have the same net effect. The redistribution of wealth from the affluent to the poor isn't generosity. It's kind of like Eddie's Christmas gift to Clark, an act of liberal giving funded by someone else!

That's why the message of Christ is so powerful. Jesus came down to earth and He preached INDIVIDUAL generosity. He said 'give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you'.

He then allowed Himself to be arrested, beaten, and crucified on our behalf. Jesus lived out, by his voluntary death, what He preached, because by dying on the cross in our place, He took on the punishment that we deserve! The hound of heaven only asks that we turn our back on sin and turn our lives over to Christ.

Lessons From Clark W. Griswold - Episode 2 - The Allure of Sin

At the beginning of the Christmas classic, 'Christmas Vacation' (not for the kids), Clark Griswold encounters an obnoxious driver and experiences a bit of road rage. The protagonists are having fun with Clark until he gives them the 'one finger salute', then things get serious. Clark's 'revenge' nearly kills his whole family.

The human foibles present in Christmas Vacation are common to all of us, and, as stated in episode 1, I think that's the appeal of the movie. We can relate to the retaliation via obscene gesture, perfectionism, revenge, over spending, anger, lust, and pride depicted in the movie. It's these human shortcomings that stand between us and the holy, perfect God who created us.

Our reactionary sin stands in contrast to our Creator, who is holy and won't allow sin into His presence. And yet our ability to understand the holiness of God and to realize how we suffer in comparison, is the first step in having a relationship with Him and obtaining His forgiveness. The truth is, we need Jesus, and until we have Him, we are lost! The hound of heaven sent His Son to mend that broken relationship.

Lessons From Clark W. Griswold - Episode 1

One of my favorite Christmas movies, 'Christmas Vacation' (not for the kids), tells the story of Clark Griswold's attempt to create the perfect family Christmas reunion. In one of the movie's subplots Clark sets out to decorate the exterior of the house with Christmas lights. Subconsciously he's getting out of the house to avoid his obnoxious, visiting, extended family members. Deep down inside, though, he wants a beautifully decorated house to enhance their Christmas experience.

The resulting, gaudily decorated house requires Clark's town to fire up the back up nuclear generator in order to supply enough power to feed the thousands of lights.

Clark's noble effort is undermined because he is unaware of a single switch that is holding back power from the lights. His house is covered in lights, but he can't get them to illuminate! Clark loses his temper in front of his family members when he lets out his frustration by beating the crap out of the plastic Santa and reindeer in his front yard.

Eventually the challenge is overcome and the entire family communes in the front yard to enjoy the display. Clark's father-in-law mentions that 'the little tiny lights aren't blinking', but Clark graciously responds with 'I know that Art and thank you for noticing'. Nothing will spoil Clark's victory!

Plausibility is the appeal of Christmas Vacation. When you watch Clark's temper tantrum or notice his desire to please his family members, you can probably relate to a similar experience in your own life. Some of us are 'pleasers'. Some of us are always trying to please someone. Some of us work hard at pleasing God.

Ironically, the Bible says that we please God by trusting Him. It says '... without faith it is impossible to please Him (God) , for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him'. You will never be able to live a life good enough to be pleasing to God, your only hope is to begin trusting Him. You've got to put all of your faith in Jesus, that His voluntary death on the cross, in our place, gives us the ability to have a relationship with the hound of heaven.

Question of the Day - Are you trying to please God or have you put your trust in Him?

(Share your answer by clicking 'comments' below.)