A new program year in the church brings with it all kinds of challenges. Yesterday, these were mine: how to entice new participants to give Sunday School or Adult Education a try; trying to fit in lunch when the day is already full with teaching, preaching, pastoral care and attending important events like our chancel choir director's marvelous two piano program and a wiffle ball event sponsored by our parents of young children's group; taking time for worship myself.
Nestled in the day for me yesterday were two gems: our morning edition kick-off was a readers' theatre production of Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury and a showing of the award-winning 2007 film Silent Light. In each, we were offered the opportunity to slow our pace, to reflect upon minute details, to see the world from the perspective of someone very different, and not unlike ourselves at all.
Whether watching eight amateur actors adopt the beautiful words of Ray Bradbury as he reflects upon his childhood in the summer of 1928, or watching first-time actors in the compelling film about a Mennonite man in north Mexico and his tormented life, both offered the chance to be still, to be observant, and to be mindful. I left each so thankful for the blessed opportunity to pause, (for every day is busy and packed), and to recall the essence of beauty, the power of redemption, and the complex nature of very simple things. It was worth all of the rushing around yesterday to take the time to slow down-- twice! And from the feedback, it sounds like others who attended one or the other or both agreed.
5 comments:
What interesting choices!
Dang, wish I lived closer!
We read "Dandelion Wine" when I was a freshman way back when. The result of that was a group of us started bringing dandelions into class and leaving them on the teacher's desk and in odd places in the classroom. Our very wise teacher, instead of getting annoyed, turned it into a writing project. We were challenged to create an anthology of poetry and short stories which were centered on dandelions. I have to admit that I don't remember Bradbury's work nearly as well as remember the work we created! And Ms. Joyce, our inspired English teacher.
I wish I lived closer too. This is a new book I hadn't heard of from him.
aaaahh slowing down... so necessary, and if we don't our bodies certainly have a way of letting us know they are. not. pleased!
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