Jars of Clay

On Saturday, the youth of my Catholic Covenant community put up our first evangelistic Christmas drama. I had been inspired by my Protestant aunt to use drama as a way of sharing the Christmas message with non-Christians, so a month ago, I sat and wrote the script.

It seems almost unbelievable that it happened at all considering that-

• We had less than three weeks to prepare the whole thing.
• People kept dropping out because of other Christmas commitments.
  
• We had all of three practices, and for not even one of them was the ENTIRE cast present.
• One of our main characters, 'God' threw up all night before the play, and dropped out.
• 'Joseph' texted me about an hour before we were supposed to meet on the final day to say 'Don't kill me, but can you get a replacement?'
• Somehow on Saturday EVENING, the 'Moneyman' didn't even know the final production was on Saturday
• 'Baby Jesus' got left behind by Santa Claus, even though I specifically reminded him to bring the doll.
  
• Of the two main music tracks we needed, one almost got left behind.
  
• We got the costumes the day before the final production.
• I had fever and a heavy cold an hour before we had to go onstage.
  

And in spite of these and many other problems, God somehow put the thing together. The 'Drunk Woman' had remembered Baby Jesus and put him in her purse. One of the Kings played God, and his son took his place as the third dancing King. One of the shepherds played 'Joseph' and another young man was called to play a shepherd. The second music track was discovered on somebody else's laptop.

And during the drama, the audience all had shocked expressions as Man struggled with Satan to get back to Jesus, and all cheered when God came between Sin and Man and took the pain on the cross. At these kind of things, it's hard to tell whether our efforts had any effect- whether it was just a small drama which would be soon forgotten. But I guess only God knows the seeds that have been planted, and he can use our paltry efforts for His Kingdom.

"But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us." 2 Cor 4:7

Haiku Hahas!

I remember about three years ago I discovered a dusty old haiku verse book in my college library... I loved it! The verses were hilarious! Unintentionally, I'm sure. I amused myself for the next few months by sending my friends haiku text messages... poor things, they were not really sure how to respond to verses addressed to watermelons lying in the sun, or red lacquered fingernails... can't remember any of them exactly unfortunately. I got over the haiku stage a while ago, but I still enjoyed this tee that Jen at Conversion Diary put up.

They Take Forever To Make... but They're Worth It!

Yes, I know.. putting up pics kinda defeats the purpose of WRITING a blog, but don't my pictures say how busy I've been?

Make yourselves saints and do so quickly!

One of the most inspiring quotes I have ever heard... This is John Paul II:

The spiritual needs of the present-day world are immense! If we look at the boundless forests of buildings in modern metropolises, invaded by numberless multitudes, we cannot but be frightened. How can we reach these persons and bring them to Christ?

We are helped by the certainty of being only instruments of grace: it is God Himself who acts in the individual soul, with his love and mercy.

Our real and constant goal must be that of personal sanctification, to be suitable and effective instruments of grace.

The truest and most sincere wish I can form for you is just this: “Make yourselves saints and do so quickly!”

L’Osservatore Romano, (December 3, 1979), p.10, address to religious communities of St. Pius V’s parish, October 28, 1979

Cheese and Salami Quiche

Seven Quick Takes (have no idea which vol)

-------1-------
Christmas is in the air... Advent mass readings, nippy weather, plum cake baking in my house, Christmas cards, Christmas plans, Christmas drama.... so familiar, so comforting. I hope I never give up my Christmas traditions.. just make new ones.


-------2-------
I just attended a funeral mass for someone from our church who might've been about ten years older than my dad. he died in a road accident (VERY common in Pune). But the funeral mass readings gave me a reassuring and age-old Christian perspective on death:

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died." 1 Thess 4:13-14

And today's Psalm was
"The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold ^* of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

One thing I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.

I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living. ¹⁴Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord! "

How can we be afraid of death if we are clinging to Jesus and believing in His mercy? It is only if I reject Him, and push Him away, that I need be afraid. What a joyous homecoming it will be one day. I can't wait to see Him face to face.

------3-------
This afternoon as I was drifting off to sleep (yes, another advantage of being unemployed- afternoon naps) I was thinking of human trafficking and how human traffickers often catch children who have been separated from their parents in some disaster, and kidnap and sell them. Then I pictured my sister with her two little girls on a busy street (I was half asleep by this time) and pictured the older one (almost two) running off in the crowds... and being kidnapped and sold and used for years... and I was horrified and disgusted. I know it happens and it is horrible to picture any child or little girl in this situation. But it was so much worse to imagine OUR little girl, MY little baby like this. I want her to be happy. Much more than any other human being, we all feel responsible for her life. And then in a flash I thought: "THIS is how God feels! This horror at the thought that His little child could be enslaved by sin, cut off from His love, unhappy, alone, degraded."

------4------
My first Christmas drama has been written and will be put up in two weeks (God willing)! It's just a short little thing, minimum preparation and trouble, but our youth are DOING it! And maybe this is just the first of the many times that we can use our creativity and talent to build God's Kingdom. Woo hoo!

-----5-----
A picture- Beth, the Banana Baby!

-------6-------

We have EWTN! Someone came and fixed some wires and hey presto! Catholic broadcasting on our television! Unfortunately we never seem to get the good shows when we actually remember to put it on- probably something to do with the fact that American prime time is the middle of the night over here, or the early hours of the morning. Also we've never had cable, so the concept of having to watch things according to the network's convenience, rather than when we sit down with a DVD on a weekend or when Mama's in the mood... well, it's unfamiliar.

-------7-------

That's it. I officially have no thoughts left- quick or otherwise. My mum would be happy to hear this. My constant flow of (verbalized) thoughts exhausts her. Oh wait, I'm still typing... which means I can talk (or type) without having absolutely anything to say. Oh well, I think my family knew that already. Signing out.

Dude!