Friday, March 9, 2018
" LIGHTEN UP ! "
Hi There!
Come on!
Let's lighten up!
Enough already with the dreary dark of winter.
Let's get into The Spring Thing -
more light and less dark every day,
break out lighter clothing.
diet off winter weight,
lighten up for "Springing."
That sure was the deal last Sunday
during a wonderful high school visit.
It was a bright sunny day outside,
and in a wonderful way
as well inside the beautiful school theater.
In that darkened space the lights paradoxically
went "up" and so did we all.
It was brilliant.
Sixty plus teens upped the amperage
of soul and psyche with their ensemble,
their singing, dancing, acting and stage management,
as they portrayed the victory of light over dark.
It was a masterful production of
Beauty and the Beast.
They made it so easy to
"Lighten Up!"
My favorite character in that so biblical-like story is
Lumiere, the Beast's kindhearted, independent,
quirkie maitre'd. He and his prince and
the whole household have come under
an evil spell making the prince a Beast and
the maitre'd a candelabra. Only love will break the spell.
Lumiere, true to his name, works to shed light
for the Beast to see that, to warm wide his heart
for that love with beautiful Belle.
Yes, love wins, freeing the Beast and his household
for human life renewed through love.
Pardon the pastor in me, but what a Christ parallel.
My "hands up" favorite actor in Sunday's
de-"light"-full performance was
a wonderful young man who played,
well of course, Lumiere.
He brought to his role a just right balance of sparkle,
impishness, and an ever so exquisite
and delightful touch of camp.
What wattage!!
His subtle, focused intensity,
his lightsome manner and twinkle,
was not only an act, it was actual.
It was graced me with an intense connect to
the Christ experience.
That young man was a true Lumiere,
a luminous gift,
in his role and in himself.
He made Love Light incarnate, present and felt.
In a unique and theatrical setting,
he captured the spirit of Jesus,
Jesus,who defies the dark,
radiating a liberating lightness
("I am the light of the world.
Whosoever follows me
will never walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life."
John 8:12).
The light of life.
That's what filled my mind and heart
Sun Day
thanks to the young Lumiere at the high school.
Sad to say and see there's a lot of darkness out here
on the street of everyday living.
Happy to say and see Jesus lightens things up
right here where we live in people
like the young thespian, you and hopefully me,
each a unique Lumiere.
A few radiances of Lightsome Living:
- being who and how we actually are
down deep, at our most real
and beautiful selves
- encouraging and embracing the same in others
- relishing diversity in unity
- being patrons of the truth
- using our talent and resources
for balanced and generous living
- "lightening" the burden of the poor and overwhelmed
- championing social and environmental justice
- welcoming outsiders in
- respecting and celebrating the various gender blessings
the Creator delights in evolving
- supporting school sports and the arts
- after all, we are invited to be
"...children of the light and children of the day.
We do not belong to the night or the darkness."
( 1 Thessalonians 5:5 ).
Lent is well under way
Like Beauty and the Beast,
Lent focuses on living in the light,
overcoming dreadful dark.
This season of enlightenment will culminate
with the Christ Candle on Holy Saturday Night.
It will be carried into the totally dark church
and pierce that darkness.
Its light will be spread to all present,
reminding us to spread it lavishly
out here on the street of every day living.
Holding the Christ Candle high,
he deacon will intone
"Lumen Christi,"
our call to
"Lighten up!!"
A heartfelt welcome to our newest participants
from Indonesia and Egypt.
We are blessed to be joined with you!
Every goodness be yours.
See you next week.
Holding you in
God's Dear Love,
John Frank
PS:
For those new to "frankly speaking":
if you wish, you can sign on for "frankly speaking"
to come to you automatically by email each week
Sign Up is at the top right of the online version.
Online postings are regularly on Friday.
The email version usually reaches folks on Saturday.