I was poking around at various channels on my TV the other day and happened to come across a station that has been playing on repeat. I’m not talking about TV networks, but rather those weird channels that you accidentally venture in to and then you realize there is a 24/7 loop of Bonanza. This is that sort of place where you’ll find something called, “Billiard TV,” which is just an endless purgatory of people playing pool. If you’re not familiar with this sort of channel you can often find with apps called something like, “Sintlebox,” “Goobah,” or “Xumo” (one of those is actually real). I don’t recommend it, unless you have an obsession with Michael Landon, because then you can watch endless amounts of both Bonanza and Little House On The Prairie.
The channel that I’ve been stuck on is, “SNL Vault.” It just plays old Saturday Night Live clips one after the other. Sometimes there’s a theme - best of Christopher Walken is quite something - and sometimes there is no discernible pattern - Chris Rock’s hosting monologue following a digital short from 2007, which by the way was just awful.
But I’ve enjoyed watching even the awful sketches. SNL is a cultural juggernaut that can best be described as, “It used to be better.” If you grew up with John Belushi, then when Eddie Murphy was on it “used to be better.” Then Mike Myers rolls around and people miss the one year that Robert Downey Jr. was a cast member. If you grew up watching Wayne’s World, then Will Ferrell was probably an omen of decline.
“It used to be better” is how everyone thinks of SNL. Not necessarily because any one cast was definitively better, but because we were definitively younger. You will never convince me that there could be a better cast than the one from 2008.
Why am I talking about Saturday Night Live? Because if there is any one institution that, “used to be better,” it’s the Church.
Do you remember when the church was at its best? I bet it lines up with a certain time of your life. I bet it lines up with a certain set of conditions that were just right for you. The best time will always be the time before now. Because change is hard and hindsight is rose-colored. You can look back and remember all of the best things, all of the best people, all of the best activities, and the current day can’t hope to keep up. Also, it’s not true. It’s easy to see the things you don’t like while they’re happening. It’s a lot harder to remember them when what remains are memories. There were definitely sketches where John Belushi couldn’t get his lines out right. There are times when Eddie Murphy relied on lazy jokes because he could get away with it. Dennis Miller was the Weekend Update host (yuck). We don’t remember those sketches. They aren’t shown anymore and they are instead replaced by the best.
Not that this is all only subjective memory – there were some truly awful seasons – Randy Quaid was a cast member at the same time as John Lovitz (no thank you). There were times in the church’s history that were objectively more difficult or worse. But as I’ve been watching, I’ve realized the new SNL stuff is actually pretty good – Bowen Yang, Ego Nwodim, and Jane Wickline are my favorites – some of it isn’t – I don’t understand Sarah Sherman. Do I remember a time when it was better? Yes. But I can’t let my nostalgia blind me from good things that I am passing up.
Do you remember a time when Church (whatever that means to you) was better? A more fulfilling place, a happier time, whatever you want… I bet you do. But I absolutely love what we’re doing right now. I love the energy and fun that we’re able to have. I love the community we create. I love the care we share with one another. In about 10 years, am I going to think that “it used to be better?” I hope not. There’s always something new happening, thanks for still being part of it.
Peace,
Jeff
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