Death and the thought of it (especially in Easter time) brings us closer to life.  Closing one Act and opening another…

I watched the school musical, Addams Family, so well performed, watched it twice, 2 sets of actors in lead roles, each brought the characters to their own interpretation still while staying true to the established expectations of us TV generation – and that’s not easy because this TV generation kid knows even the expected smiles of the beloved characters, – so even if the wardrobe was perfect, it’s the smiles or lack there of that sells the story as “authentic” Granted this musical is based more on the movie than the TV show…. 

What makes me now smile internally is seeing the Christian references pop out in “secular” stories…  Talking about the dead, how could it not? Looking at graveyard scenes, it was filled with crosses. The display case too had a vintage era looking weathered cross. Interesting that in secular places, one lead actress in her alternate non-lead character on the 2nd night, was portraying a deceased nun as a backup player. A nun with a cross around her neck, naturally…  She held up the cross as defensive offensive work in some of the scenes where all the craziness was coming out in the characters…  Yeah – this was not presented as a faith play but I got a smile because God found His “in”… 

God finds His “in” – or simply we scratch the surface of where He already IS in… Yes, in death we just reflect on the need for the Lord – and even those who don’t necessarily worship the Lord can often be seen to appreciate those who do – and take it as “a norm” to turn to faith…  Of course, this is not true in each country – we can both demonstrate our faith and even demonstrate a ho-hum attitude to it in the US – but in many countries they have to keep their faith underwraps but open to the Lord’s needs. And in some they become martyrs for their faith.

Good Lord – I do ponder our ability to both believe and not believe… And I do appreciate opportunities to give you credit where credit is due…

The Addams Family is funny – and as a hat trick to this past weekend where the sermon at church and songs played all seemed to point (naturally) to the truly Easter theme – “death brings life”…   Death of the Lord brings Him and us new Life. Our own death will bring new life in Him. In the meantime, death of our earthly wants and cruxes, brings new Life in freedom from shackling chains that we get to drop. And death to the wickedness of evil in a broken world (after the Rapture and 1000 years Millennium) will be SO JOYFUL after such pain. Even if we will see not necessarily in our lifetime, surely as Heavenly observers, we will witness these stages of death to new life time…  

At intermission of the Addams Family musical I ate cookies while waiting for the final act – and took some home for later…  At this Lenten time of reflection, let us also be joyful in waiting for the final act – hold onto Joy and take some home for later… We already have been admitted to the “theatre of life” – the ticket was paid for and punched – and the curtain has not closed yet, so keep living it out. Keep living LIFE before Death to prep for LIFE after Death. Even best, we are now “behind the curtain” – so we get to see Jesus bringing for His new Acts to Life…  

Amen 

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Psalm 97

The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory.

All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols— worship him, all you gods! Zion hears and rejoices and the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments, Lord. For you, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.