Archive for December, 2008

To be original, unique, stand out in the crown; an individual.  Why does our society value individualism more than conformity?  In the early 1900’s, someone “different” may have been accused of being a communist.  The 1950’s sparked the age of suburbia, also called “Hooverville” for everyone desired to be the same.  Conformity was viewed as safe, normal.  Today, individualism is hailed as “being yourself”.  What in our society changed?

Yevgenty Zamyatin wrote a book in the titled “We” over fifty years ago.  The novel is the journal of a man characterizing his society for future readers ignorant of his way of life.  People no longer have names but numbers, D-503.  The state strives for complete conformity by all people, creating a system ruled by complete order.  No one is significant; no one stands out.  Individualism has ceased to exist, all that remains is “we”.

The book intrigues me for the culture represents the opposite of our individualistic society.  Yet I wonder if we lost the blessing of conformity.  Churches are distinguished by their denominations, different in ways many do not know.  Contentment is hidden deep within us, for we ask “what if” or “if I had … I would be happy.”  In the act of uniqueness have we lost the ability to be content?  We are never different enough, striving to be perfect or unlike anyone else.

What meaning comes from these thoughts?  I do not know.  My mind simply revolves around a question, a striking one for my personality.  What is wrong with being “normal”?  I know normalcy is a false reality, but the idea remains.  Why do I desire with every ounce of my being to be extraordinary, special, different?

The Lord gives and the Lords taketh away. Many welcome trails with resentment while such experiences prove to develop growth in the end.  Christ bore trials and persecutions most Christians never will experience.  Yet we deduce from his sacrifice our lives will be void of such difficulties. The words from Christ himself state if the world persecutes him, we will receive the same.   But what divine purpose exists in difficulties no human enjoys?

Paul wrote a complex treatise on theology we know today as the letter to Rome.  We are implored to rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  I embrace this hope however more is to be rejoiced; we also rejoice in our suffering.  Rejoicing in pain and suffering rarely fills the pulpits of American churches while the love and mercy of Christ overflows.  What if we are focusing on the easy, “cheap” grace as Bonehoeffer described it?

God allows trials into our lives not as punishment, but as an act of love.  His love compels him to usher us forward.  Times of trial with the appearance of darkness exist to bring us into the dawn with a new hope, a greater desire in our hearts to persevere.  The trials challenge us to strive for something greater than our meager expectations, bringing us to unimaged heights.  The greater the reward the more difficult the risk.

In times of discomfort grabbing hold of the hope Christ bestowed to us, promises that will never be void, will supply the strength to accomplish any task before us. Through suffering perseverance is produced, leading to character ending in hope.  A hope God gave his children through the Holy Spirit will never disappoint. Trials in our lives are open opportunities to experience the power of the Spirit in ourselves.  God disciples the one’s he loves, stretching those he cares for, and challenges his children to grow into men and woman after him.

Experiencing live theatre thrills one every time it receives the opportunity.  Allowing the expressions, passion and emotions that fill a theatre touch the soul, blesses one in an indescribable way.  Choreography perfected by months of endless practice, notes sung with such clarity, touch the heart in areas unknown to ourselves.  Why does one experience a vast array of feeling in a normal place?

Humans are emotional beings, created to experience love and joy, to see beauty, passion, gracefulness; our hearts’ design forces it to seek out emotions.  The theatre, live theatre, brings forth a beauty scarcely seen elsewhere.  The time, the sweat devoted to perfect the flawless flow of movement makes one marvel at the beauty created.  Sharing in the poetical performance generates a joy, a peace in ones heart where one sees the simple beauty God created in human beings.  The power to control one’s muscles, the majestic music made in movement; the power to control one’s voice, creating music magnificent to the ears, what a gift God gave to his creation.

The peace emerging in the heart from a live performance of graceful control encapsulates the body.  Experiencing art in the purist form, from without ourselves, stimulates the soul in a manner many have lost.  “To die, to sleep, perhaps to dream.  Aye, there’s the rub.  For in the sleep of death, what dreams may come.”

Have we died in specific areas of the soul?  The world values tangible, material accomplishments allowing one to obtain meaningless possessions.  Did the area of beauty hidden in the theatre disappear from our knowledge with the invention of films?  Is the soul destined to die in area to the technological age?  I pray the calming touch of theatre, the magic melodies of music survive this dark night of the soul.  For in the sleep of death, what dreams may come?