What Can You Do With a General?
How does a person transition from a position of authority and success to a “nobody”? If someone is used to giving the orders and receiving a level of respect, what happens when they are no longer in that position? This is one of the main themes found in the classic musical “White Christmas.” Tom Waverly, a respected major general during World War II, found himself, 10 years later, a failing innkeeper. The characters in the story end up putting together a 10th anniversary celebration for him, but a song that really makes you think is the one that Bing Crosby’s character sings as he makes an appeal for his fellow soldiers to attend. It asks the question, “What can you do with a general when he stops being a general? . . . / They fill his chest with medals while he’s across the foam / And they spread the crimson carpet when he comes marching home / The next day someone hollers when he comes into view / “Here comes the general” and they all say “General who?” / They’re delighted that he came / But they can’t recall his name / Somehow he’s not understood enough / They think no job could be good enough / That’s why this country never has enjoyed / So many one and two and three and four star generals, unemployed.”
As humans, we don’t relish the idea of losing who we are. We each have an identity that we’ve crafted and if we were to lose that, we would be lost. This is why I think that one of the greatest wonders of Christmas is that a General, the Commander of the Lord’s Army, gave up His title and identity, His position of authority and respect, to come to this earth as a nobody. Paul put it this way: “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4, 5). Imagine the sacrifice and love that required! Yet, how many of us truly appreciate that sacrifice and give Him the honor He deserves? This season, won’t you thank Him for His priceless gift?
