When Dreams Come True

Tonight our family was able to watch the DVD of Sight & Sound Theater's production of Joseph! It was amazing... Obviously, it had the theme "When Dreams Come True". I mean, with a story about Joseph, what else would it be about? But it also had other themes running through it. A major one was the them of character, of keeping your name.

Joseph's coat of many colors was a status symbol. That's why his brothers hated it so much. It showed everyone that Joseph was Jacob's favorite son. And it showed that he was heir of the promises of God. Joseph wore several other coats in the show. Potipher gave him a special coat, symbolizing the status and the favor he was shown in Potipher's house. He was also given another coat by Pharaoh himself, symbolizing his status as governor of Egypt.

But as important as these outward symbols were, they were not as important as the character that they symbolized. Joseph told Potipher's wife that he could not do this great evil against God. He could not lose his name. And as the guards were dragging him off towards the dungeon, Mrs. Potipher sneered in Joseph's face "You have lost everything". To which Joseph replied, "No! I have kept my name."

Later on, when faced with the appearance of his brothers in Egypt, Joseph was forced to face the wound that he had thought was dead and gone. The hurt that he had buried was now alive again, burning him intensely. But his wife was there to remind him about his life - and his dream. In his dream about the sheaves, his brothers sheaves all bowed to him, but only after he had stood upright. He had to stand upright, just as he had done in Potipher's house, just as he had done when approached by Potipher's wife, just as he had done in the prison, just as he had done before Pharaoh. And now he must stand upright again, keep his character, his name, and his brothers would bow to him.

Joseph did stand upright and his brothers did bow to him. And when his father was finally reunited with him, Joseph, sobbing, with his head buried in Jacob's shoulder, said "Father, I have kept my name."

That reminds me of another time, a time when we will be reunited with our Father. Will we be able to say on that day, "Father! I have kept Your name!" If so, that is when all our dreams will finally come true!

In The Beginning

Last night, our family was able to watch Sight and Sound's "In The Beginning" on DVD. I wasn't exactly sure how I would like it, because, to be honest, the creation story and Adam and Eve have always seemed so distant, so impersonal. Like, it happened in another time and place and I can't really relate to it. But it definitely surpassed my wildest dreams! It was so - real! I mean, a real God Who has feelings just like us made real people in His image to be His friends! Of course, I already knew this somehow, but it never seemed real to me before... How can I describe it? I mean, during the fall, when Eve and then Adam ate the fruit, Jesus was standing off in the distance, watching, yearning for them to make the right choice. And then to see the hurt in his eyes and the disappointment and sadness in his face as He turned away... And then a prayer Adam prayed soon after they had left the garden. He was crying, saying how much he missed Jesus and the angels and wondering how long it would be before he could see them again. And that's when it suddenly struck me. Jesus and the angels had become Adam and Eve's best friends! Their friendship was probably closer and stronger than the best friendships we have, and suddenly to lose it all! To be banned from seeing each other!!! Oh, the pain and hurt they must have endured! It was just overwhelming!

But then at the end, Eden is restored and Adam and Eve are once again reunited with Jesus and all their angel friends. Just to see them running through the garden again, looking young and happy, and most of all, enjoying every second with their Best Friend - wow... And then all the angels and the redeemed singing the finale song. Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee and then going into Holy, Holy, Holy. I must admit, I was crying by the end of it. It was just so moving, so incredible! I hope I never lose the feeling of longing I have right now, to go to heaven, to meet Jesus face to face, to feel His arms around me. To know that there will be peace forever. Life and love will never end. And there will be no more sad goodbyes... That is life, the way it was meant to be. That is what we were created to enjoy. Oh how I long to be home...