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Rudolph was the proverbial "meek" and "last" - not by nature, but by comparison. It's not that his neon nose wasn't worthy, it's simply that it was different from all the other reindeer noses. This was enough to brand him as a perennial outcast among peers.
Rudolph therefore needed saving - not because he was bad, but because he was good in a way that others couldn't understand or appreciate. It took a saint (Nick) to really see the (glowing red) light.
As the original song goes, Santa moved Rudolph to the head of the class and suddenly the reindeer were proclaiming his place in history. The story quickly ends on a high note. Rudolph's happy, Santa's happy, even the reindeer are happy. Yet that type of happiness hinges upon fame and success, both of which seem far more precarious than joyful.
If God were tweaking this story, it might have evolved differently. Santa would have seen Rudolph's innate charisma and moved him up front. The other reindeer might then have trampled Rudolph while trying to outpace him. They might never have accepted the illumination that he offered so freely.
Which begs the question: When the last really do become first, will we simply go on singing Rudolph's martyred praises, or will we collectively follow his lead to create an eternally happier ending?
Resources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolph_the_Red-Nosed_Reindeer
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