A VISIT FROM LENA HORNE
There is an episode of Sanford and Son—“A Visit from Lena Horne”—that remains, for me, one of the purest joys in television. I have seen many comedies; I have laughed at countless scenes; but that one…that one is in a class by itself. The way Fred Sanford trembles with excitement, the way his eyes widen as though he has just glimpsed the gates of heaven itself—he is a man overwhelmed by the honor of being in the presence of someone he has admired from afar. His whole face changes; his whole being lights up; every ounce of him says, “This is the moment I dreamed of.”
And yes—it is a simple analogy, but sometimes the simplest ones hold the most weight. When I watch Fred stumble and babble and nearly collapse in the presence of Lena Horne (and I totally understand why), I cannot help but ask a quiet question to my own heart: Am I that excited about Jesus? Not the idea of Jesus. Not the doctrines surrounding Him. Not the cultural familiarity with His name. But Him—the living Christ, the One who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
Fred Sanford’s excitement came from admiration at a distance; but the Lord we serve is not distant—He is near, present, welcoming, calling us to come boldly to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). And still, I often find myself more moved by earthly heroes, earthly pleasures, earthly visits, than by the staggering reality that the King of Glory has invited me into fellowship with Him. The angels veil their faces in His presence—and here I am, sometimes yawning through prayers, drifting through worship, treating the Lord of heaven as though He were merely another appointment in my day.
Lena Horne walked into Fred Sanford’s living room for a few minutes of sitcom delight; but Jesus walks into the rooms of our souls—the dusty ones, the cluttered ones, the forgotten corners—and He brings grace that cleans, restores, and renews. He is not a celebrity to admire from afar; He is a Savior who comes near. He is not a guest who leaves after the final act; He is Immanuel—God with us—God staying with us.
And so, yes, I still watch Sanford and Son. I make no apologies and offer no defenses. If anything, that old show reminds me of something deeper: that joy is a good teacher, that laughter has its place, and that even a sitcom can whisper a spiritual truth if you are willing to listen for it. When Fred Sanford nearly faints in the presence of Lena Horne, his joy becomes a mirror held up to my soul—and I pray that my heart might learn again what it means to live in awe of Jesus, the One infinitely more beautiful, more worthy, more satisfying than any star who ever walked across a television screen.
Because one day—far sooner than we think—the faith we now hold will become sight, and the One we have read about, sung about, preached about, will stand before us. And on that day, no analogy will seem too simple. And no excitement will seem too much. For we will see Him as He is (1 John 3:2); and our joy—far greater than Fred Sanford’s—will finally overflow.
BDD
