Yesterday I watched an incredibly powerful play put on by a group of homeschoolers. It traced just a few events in history that had a dramatic effect on the world I grew up in and still live in today.
They are events that still clearly reveal that our current world would be in a *much* worse place if our current cultural attitudes were allowed to flourish.
It showed how certain practises (like torture killing of criminals, forced sale of young girls for sex), perceived as fine by the culture, were ended due to the influence on One person.
The ramifications of this One person, hundreds of years later in history in England, had a huge effect (again) on vulnerable children. These children were being exploited for money, yet this One person motivated others to sacrifice time, money and love…the result was dramatic, not ‘just’ for these children, but for society as a whole.
There was also a brutally honest act about how religion perverted the message of the One they claimed to represent, something else I could personally identify with.
The last two acts showed different elements directly related to Australian history: first with convicts / settlers – and then an eerily accurate representation of ‘normal’ Australian life after the war.
Although I had felt pangs of emotion throughout the different acts as I could envision the difference this One person made, this last act hit much closer to ‘home’. I knew people in the crowd who had gone through the very same tumultuous reality: distant, angry, drinking father.
The show depicted how this One person, dramatically changed their lives and their family reality – something I have personally and powerfully experienced. But my mind was brought to the many who’s lives were not changed. This double-sided thought process is often very emotional for me: I definitely did not deserve to experience any mercy or change…why me?
Standing at the back, I was joined by a man who shared joyfully that he had been involved in the very events being depicted that had helped so many. A strange ‘coincidence’ that added to the emotion. Staggering statistics of how the events actually changed Australia in so many ways, from crime to alcoholism, to illegitimate children.
Statistics many don’t know about, and many more are determined to ignore…but the Truth remains: the same One can have an impact on us, our families and our culture.
I wasn’t ready for what happened next. Being determined to try to keep my composure, it was difficult…yep I failed.
All the children that had participated in the play, one by one took the microphone and spoke a sentence. Some were statements of fact about our culture in dire need: confusion, addiction, disconnectedness, rudeness, crime, depression, suicide (my words).
Some were quotes from a Book that predicted everything in fine detail and some were statements of conviction from these children who obviously believed what they were declaring.
“We will not worry about being ridiculed or different, we will stand up and be used like these people to represent the One that can help” (my paraphrase).
It was incredibly powerful and moving. In tears all I could think was the difference this One could make to people like me: depressed, suicidal, addicted, hopelessly lost – still suffering 20 years laters from stupid decisions.
But these children, it seems have been taught (and modelled) something far, far different. If they follow the One that inspired this show (and their parents), they will avoid many, if not all, of the pit falls I chose. And so will those around them who listen to their message. Our whole culture could experience the same shifts and benefits it has over the course of history, so aptly emphasised as “His story”.
I want to thank all the parents and helpers of this show who have sacrificed so much time and money to share this much needed message:
– Thank you on behalf the children who may not yet know the extent of which your effort (has and) will save them.
– Thank you for the ones who will hear the message of your children and be saved from (or out of), the painful path I followed.
– And thank you from those in society at large even if they remain ignorant of the One that has provided the benefits they take for granted.
I pray that the message of His hope, joy and peace would be spread far and wide while it still can.
– Adam Keegan
[Note: For clarity, ‘the Book’ I refer to is the Bible (ask me for a free copy – you will be blown away by what it *actually* says).
‘The One’ I refer to is the Lord Jesus Christ, King of all, alive and well, powerful to save individuals and caring of the people in our culture despite our hatred and rebellion. May the Good News about Him be boldly proclaimed this Christmas – may we follow Him as we live out His story.