“Elf” is the best.

That’s not a controversial statement, is it? I mean, all these blog-writing sites I read tell me to write controversial posts to get more traffic.

Since “Elf” is more universally beloved than the World’s Best Cup Of Coffee, I tried to come up with an angle to tear the movie apart.

I’ve got nothing. It can’t be done. “Elf” is pretty much perfect.

Seriously – I took a girl to see “Elf” when it first came out in theaters. She didn’t like the movie. Right there I knew things would not work between us. We broke up a month later.

I watched Elf with my current girlfriend the other night. Thank God she likes it, alhough she did fall asleep watching it.

As she slept through the last 30 minutes I really took to heart the end of the movie.

You know the story. Buddy, the human who grew up at the North Pole raised by Santa’s elves, returns to New York City to find his father. After making a huge mess of everything, Buddy runs away from his new family.

All the while Santa Claus is struggling to get his sleigh running right since Christmas Spirit around the world is at a record low. Santa crash lands in Central Park just a few feet away from Buddy.

Santa explains his woes to Buddy and ask for his assistance. But Buddy doesn’t believe he’s up to the task:

Santa: I need an elf’s help.

Buddy: I’m not an elf, Santa. I can’t do anything right.

Santa: Buddy, you’re more of an elf than anyone I’ve ever met. And you’re the only one I’d want working on my sleigh tonight.

The gospel presented by an elf and Santa Claus.

Buddy the Elf didn’t do anything to deserve the love of Santa Claus besides crawl into Santa’s bag as a baby. He didn’t do anything to earn adoption into the happiest place in the world.

Santa could have kicked this kid out and sent him back to the orphanage. Especially for all the headaches having a human in an elf’s world caused.

But Santa showed Buddy grace way back then. He continues to show it here as well.

Santa uses flawed elves (and humans pretending to be elves) to do his work.

God uses imperfect humans to do His.

You’re not a cotton-headed ninny-muggins. You’re exactly who God created you to be for just such a time as this.

Even though Buddy wasn’t born an elf, Santa bestows that name upon him out of grace.

God bestows upon us the name Beloved. He calls us His children. He welcomes us into his family and puts us to work. He never gives up on us.

Even when it seems like you can’t do anything right, never doubt your identity in God.

You don’t have to remember the code of the elves or the four main elf food groups. You don’t have to complete your assignment of etch-a-sketches on time. You don’t have to be perfect.

You just be you with all your quirks and idiosyncrasies and imperfections. That’s all God ever wanted you to be.

Do you ever feel like a failure? How can you remember your true identity in The Lord?