preparations part 2

I went with 3 of my friends to a theater production of the Christmas story this past weekend. I wasn't sure what to expect and since it was a theater performance, i fully expected some kind of secular presentation of Christmas-y themes.

But it was pleasantly suprising!

They used the text of the biblical story and mashed it up with choreography, song and dance to give it a new twist. While the presentation definitely had a Honduran flavor, noted in the choreographed dance moves and subtle hints of Honduran humor, it was very engaging and very well done. I could hardly believe how the cast of 8 was in constant motion for almost 2 hours. Impressive!

The idea of a dramatic interpretation is to bring a story to life. To help you see it through a new lens.  I appreciated the way it helped me reflect on certain parts of the Christmas story that i simply skim over when I read through it in the bible. There were two specific parts:

The first was when the angel came to Zechariah to tell him his wife, who was barren, will be given a son. The angel in the play chose to deliver his message through a very creative rap, which was definitely entertaining, but there was something else that stuck with me--the idea that Zechariah was silenced until after his son was born. I thought about how crazy that that must have been, his family and friends mocking him, in disbelief, or thinking he had gone mad! Not to mention that he probably had to use some creative charades to explain that a heavenly being had paid him a personal visit. I was struck again by the ways in which God has worked through "ordinary" people to accomplish his purpose, yet they are imperfect vessels. Zechariah's faith brought about his Son's birth, but his disbelief in the power of God to move in such a way silenced him for 9 months.

The second part was when Mary and Joseph flee with their infant son to Egypt in fear of their lives. They become immigrants in a strange land, undocumented and living "under the radar." It made me ache for others who have made a similar journey--to protect their families, to find a better life, to flee persecution--though they may even lose their lives trying. Aptly titled "la huida de los mojados" or "the fleeing of the undocumented," the scene left me unsettled with this song playing in the background:

Caminos Verdes
Music and lyrics: Rubén Blades

I’m arriving to the border

Eeeeeeeae

And may God’s will prevail

Eeeeeeeae

I’m arriving to the border

Eeeeeeeae

And may God’s will prevail

Eeeeeeeae

As advent brings light to the dark places, I also pray that God's will prevails.