Sunday, April 24, 2011

Breaking the Silence

I know, I know.
And you are going to hate me even more when your realize I have no real content.
So today is Easter.
I took Jonathan home after church so he could nap and found myself on the Internet with a few moments to spare.
I came across this video.


The moment I started watching, my eyes started rolling and my uncool radar was going off the charts.
That was twenty minutes ago, and I have watched it four times and every time I watch it I cry harder and sooner. And when I am done writing this, I am going to watch it again.

Yes, the voice-over is melodramatic, and the lady dancing with the scarf is cliche. Yes you could tell exactly what was going to happen the moment you click play. Yes, it is obvious the people in the background are going to suddenly "spontaneously" start dancing, in their bright multi-colored, yet still random looking shirts.
Yes, everyone thinks flash mobs are cool, and it was only a matter of time until Christians got their claws into it. I like to think I am cooler than other Christians. I like to keep it below the radar. I don't wear oversized t-shirts with giant praying hands on them. And I tend to think people who do are, well, annoying.
So the moment I started watching the video and heard the cheesy christian techno. I groaned inwardly, and watched with my eyes poised to roll and deep patronizing sighs ready.  But then, as I watched the awkward and non-uniform choreography something happened.  I started seeing the faces of the people dancing. It was different. It was sincere, and there was great joy. Then I began to see the diversity in the crowd, not just racially, but in age, and personality. But they were all united, under One Name. I could see people I knew (not literally) but people I could identify with. And I began to see, just maybe, just maybe what heaven will be like. When we dance, all of us. Those with rhythm, those without, the young, the old. All of us, together. And then I started crying. Especially when I saw the old lady and the old man dancing. Maybe because it's Easter, or maybe not.
So hopefully, you can enjoy it, without all the criticism, but if you're like me, try to get past the first minute and a half, and see if you can't just get past your cynicism.

2 Corinthians 5:13
"If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit."