Friday evening Sr Wantabee visited a dinner theatre and saw an outstanding production of the musical Footloose. Fantastic music, dancing and story line. Single mom with high school son move from Chicago, hipsville, to nowheresville–a perfect setting for culture shock, not unsimilar to Sr. Wantabee moving from Los Angeles to the bush of Africa. In the town, an accident had occurred four years previously resulting in the death of four youth, one being the son of the pastor. The town has set up all sorts of rules like “no dancing” to protect their youth from accident and the pains of life. Of course the youth are frustrated, the adults legalistic, as in walks our hip hero from Chicago, ready to “push the envelope.” Our hero falls for the pastor’s daughter who is rebelling also and together they challenge the system to let their feet loose to dance.
In so many ways our feet are tied and not loose as we go through life, avoiding that which hurt us before, and seeking to guard that which is promising for the future. In this grip of fear, we die and tear ourselves apart. February 15th Wonder asked what feeds our souls? Is it music, is it the fellowship around food, is it nature, a good book or just a night out on the town, avoiding the ordinary. Footloose involved all of those. Music, friends, food, nature (yelling at the train), and the audience escaping for a night. But many people feed their souls on the opposite: loneliness, hunger, injustice and alienation.
At the end of the play, the issues are resolved and the pastor hesitantly allows the dance, and turns to the audience, arms raised and says, “Let’s pray…(turns to the stage)…for our youth!” The story ends with a flurry of dancing. The human soul finds food in music, friendship, nature, books, and entertainment, but many also turn to faith, to religious literature to fortify themselves, which brings us to the second lesson of Wonder.
Why do people study the Bible?
1. It’s great literature.
2. Inspiration and guidance for daily life.
3. It is a symbol of truth and authority.
4. It records history from several perspectives.
5. To nurture and encourage faith.
6. Comfort in times of grief or stress.
7. To engage in ongoing reflection about life.
All of the above reasons motivate someone to read the Bible.
Ponder this week, which of these verses inspires you the most?
_____”Come to me all who are weak and heavy ladened and I will give you rest.”
_____”All scripture is useful for teaching, reproof, instruction,and training in righteousness.”
______Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my way.”
On the Way to Wonder 