My Time with "The Veil"

I love art. I love art in its every form, from literature to visual art to music to theater. Until this afternoon, however, I had never seen a dance performance. Wow. The girls and I went to see Lee University's Unity Troupe perform "The Veil", which was probably the most powerful and moving experience I have ever had in the context of a theater. It was just... Goodness.

The talent of the dancers, the BEAUTY of the writing, the depth of the story, & the profundity of the thoughts...I'm in awe. I just wanted to take some time while it was fresh on my mind to reflect a little about the things I felt like God used this performance to remind me.

The overall story was the story of the Creation. When the animals were coming out a few at a time, I smiled at the thought of Him forming each of them, with all of their diversity and complexity. I teared up the first time when the monkeys came on the stage. It just blows my mind to really consider the care and detail that went into the animals and, in some cases, the humor that had to have been there. How glad I am to serve a God of humor, a King who laughs and a smiling Savior.

Another part of the program that at first caught me off-guard but ended up resulting in some deep thinking was the immediate post-Adam creation. They really emphasized an intimacy between the Spirit of God (played by a female) and Adam. At first, I was a bit unsettled by that. Then I took a step back and considered what Adam represented to His Creator... His masterpiece, His newborn babe, His closest friend. We aren't called the "Bride of Christ" for no reason. And it really made me question, is that level of intimacy present in MY life between me and my Savior?

As for the next takeaway, it could have totally been in my imagination and not purposely in the performance, but it still made me think. The Spirit of God and Adam danced beautifully together after creation. After the creation of Eve, before the Spirit of God allowed Eve to go to Adam, she also danced with Eve. Again, this could have been a stretch on my part, but what was so impressed on my mind from that part was that we have to learn to dance with God before we can dance with others. He HAS to be our first priority. If our relationship with Him isn't solid, none of the rest of our relationships will be either.

Another part that was different from the ways I have always imagined it was with the Fall itself. The struggle between the Serpent and the Spirit of God and Adam and Eve was not a short one. It wasn't a quick decision--eat the apple, learn everything, easy choice. There was an ongoing battle, a struggle, back and forth and back and forth. It's no different than a sin decision today. Most of us don't make snap choices to sin, impetuously. It typically comes with a struggle.

For me, the most painful and REAL moment of the entire performance was after the Fall when the Spirit of God fell to the ground and uttered the most gut-wrenching, visceral cry you can imagine. It was all the more powerful because it was the first vocal sound in the performance to that point. As I watched the girl playing this part writhe on the ground, clutching the fabric that represented righteousness, moaning in pain, it made me cry. It's not something we think about very often, or at least I don't. And it's not a far leap to consider the sort of pain He feels right now, every time I sin. Wow.

The show ended with the restoration of humankind through the redemption story via the Cross and the Resurrection. It, too, was just a phenomenal visual representation of the story of MY salvation. I can't say enough about this performance. I know there's a big game of some sort on tomorrow night, but I guarantee you, this show will cause you to delve into your spirit  and relationship with God in a way very few things can. 7:30. Dixon Center at Lee. It's so worth it!