The other night, I sat and watched an interview with Danny Bonaduce. You may remember him. He was the wise cracking, red headed kid on the 70’s television show The Partridge Family. When the show was canceled, Danny had a difficult time transitioning into life without “the psychedelic bus” and the rest of the Partridge clan.
He fell into a life of drugs, sex, and wild behavior. When asked what his most bizarre experience was, he said, “I would get up in the morning from (sleeping in) my car parked by the dumpster in the back of Mann’s Chinese Theatre (in Hollywood) and go out front and sign autographs for people. They were so excited to meet a TV star out in the street. They had no idea that I was living around back in my car and eating out of the dumpster.”
Late in the interview, the reporter asked him about the cross around his neck. He pulled it from inside his shirt and smiled. He said that at one time, he thought God was making a big joke in his life, but now he is a man with faith. Not that he’s perfect, but now he is an imperfect man with a perfect God. How did such a change happen in his life? His wife is a devout Christian. He went to church with her many times and got nothing from it, but one day… it was “as if a light went on.” He now believes that God is healing his soul.
Today, Bonaduce is fairing much better. He has a wife and children, but his self destructive behavior still gets him into trouble. He has had success in reality TV and is a disc jockey by trade.
After hearing this interview, I was struck by the fact that Danny made no claims of change. In other words, just because he is now a Christian, his life hasn’t taken a 180 degree turn. There was no “magic” conversion. He is still mischievous and, at times, self destructive. But he is off alcohol and drugs and is trying live a clean life. He says, “I knows what I am capable of and it is scary.”
I think one reason we are fascinated by someone like Danny is because we all see a little of him in us… the excess… the self motivation…the immorality and so on. We are fallen creatures who on our own have no shot at goodness and redemption.
Isn’t that what Christmas is really about. What God offers to us in Jesus Christ is a second chance (or a third or fourth or more)! In Jesus, we have “the undoing of Adam”. Suddenly the good news spoken by the angel to the shepherds is true in Luke 2:10. “Do not be afraid, I bring you Good News of great joy that will be for all people. Today a Savior has been born to you.” That is the Christmas gift! Through no work of our own, God has chosen to bring us into right relationship and adopt each one of us. We are the children God always wanted! I think Danny Bonaduce knows that now and I hope you do too. So…come on get happy! God loves you. Merry Christmas!
