Debbie Downer - Devotion for 11/17/08

Debbie Downer – Devotion for 11/17/08

A few years ago there was a skit on Saturday Night Live that was called “Debbie Downer.” In these skits, there would be a gathering of family or friends who were having a great time, and then the title character would add share some horrible news which would completely bring down the whole mood, subsequently followed by the comedic “Wah-wah.” For example in one skit, Debbie was with family at a Disney World theme restaurant, and when Pluto comes and visits at their table, Debbie remarks, “Oh, hey Pluto. Boy, it must be fun to work here ... although, the biggest drawback to working at a theme park is that you must live under constant fear of deathly terrorist attacks." Pluto responds by immediately storming off, leaving the family trying to call him back to cheer him up again. “Wah-wah.”

Have you ever known a “Debbie Downer?” Sometimes there are people around us who just seem to have something negative to say, and sometimes we really just don’t want to hear the negativity. I thought about that this morning as I was reading Matthew 16:21-28. Just before this particular passage, Jesus had asked his disciples who other people said he was, and then he asked who they said he was, and Simon had answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”(Matt. 16:16) Jesus seemed to be thrilled with his answer, and basically said, “Simon – you Rock!” That’s really just the Adam Seate paraphrase, but Jesus did say that his name would be Peter (rock), and on that rock he would build his church. Everything seemed great – everyone seemed happy. But then verse 21 comes along – “From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.” Can’t you almost hear the “wah-wah?” As you can imagine, that’s not exactly the kind of happy, good-feelings stuff that some of them wanted to hear, so Peter took Jesus to the side and began to rebuke him, saying “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” In one way, I sort of feel like he was trying to tell Jesus to quit being a “Debbie Downer.” Jesus then says, “Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your might on God’s interests, but man’s.”

We all may have known a “Debbie Downer.” Maybe it is someone who always says something that you ultimately know, but you really just didn’t want to hear it. For me it’s kind of like enjoying a piece of pizza, only to have someone mention how many calories are in that one piece. “Wah-wah.” However, as much as we don’t want to hear these types of things, sometimes I think that if we don’t hear them we might miss something. Jesus was able to go on and explain that as great as life was, there is something better. Without his rebuke of Peter we might not have learned how necessary it is for each of us to sacrifice, to take up our cross and follow Him. Next time you have a “Debbie Downer,” before we so quickly dismiss them or ignore them completely, maybe we need to recognize that it might be something we need to hear – even if we don’t want to. Wah-wah.

Debbie Downer video clip: http://media.putfile.com/SNL-Debbie-Downer-WDW