Praying to Baby Jesus

A story about Ricky Bobby and modern-day Christians

I have been participating in a weekly Monday night Advent study led by Kevin Slimp of Knoxville. I met Kevin a couple times in my previous career; among other things, he’s one of the nation’s foremost newspaper design consultants, and would travel across the country advising newspapers on how to freshen up their layout and typography. The late Jason Reynolds and I traveled to Knoxville to attend a conference Kevin hosted.

Kevin is also an active United Methodist, and has worked with church leaders on various projects in the past. When he posted to social media that he was leading an online Advent study, I thought it would be fun. There have been some years that I’ve picked up some sort of daily Advent devotional booklet at church, but I have a horrible record as far as sticking to it.

Kevin is using the book Advent — a Season of Surprises, by Scott Chrostek, as the text for this study, and last night’s chapter made reference to the Will Ferrell comedy “Elf.” I didn’t realize it, but “Elf” was basically the first movie shot on location in New York City following the 9/11 attacks — a conscious decision by city leaders and the filmmakers, to try to bring joy back to a city that had been through unimaginable horror.