By Reilly Roberts
“Christmas waves a magic wand over the world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” – Norman Vincent Poole.
To put my own twist on the familiar lyrics, these are a few of my favorite things: the Christmas season, stepping into someone else’s shoes to tell a story, and being able to join together in community. There is a special magic that each of these hold. Christmas is full of wonder, anticipation, mystery, and heartwarming joy; some would even describe it as magical. Theatre is an opportunity to share truth, to invite an audience on a journey that could change their hearts along with your own. Community allows for genuine growth, sharing in life, and it produces a family outside of your own. Being involved in Acting Out Theatre Company for my second production, I have been able to combine all three of my favorite things and it has truly been magical. Unfortunately, it’s hard to see some of the magic when the world in which we live is muddled with negativity, division, and darkness.
As a graduate student pursuing degrees in theology, I am not immune to the heartbreak that is permeating the world around me. In a previous blog post by our music man, Brad, he mentions the overwhelming consumerism that is devouring the Christmas season. Greed has grown up like weeds, choking the joy out of Christmas. Just look at news reports on black Friday riots. With that, the holiday season brings about other difficult emotions. Instead of this “hope” that is supposed to be felt in the advent season, we are bombarded with headlines that feed our heads full of the loneliness and turmoil of the world. Have we forgotten what our place is? Well, George Bailey did, too. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the ocean of negativity and let the rose be removed from our glasses. The magic in It’s A Wonderful Life is the reminder needed this Christmas season. There is dissonance all around, but it is never too much to drown out the overwhelming goodness that is innately laced throughout humanity. Each individual has a responsibility to spread joy. Each person has so much good within him or her. Whether you realize it or not, you have the potential to revive the warmth of this season with being kind, inviting people into your home for a meal, or reconciling a broken relationship. The story we get to bring to life is rich with possibility and hope. It revives the striking beauty that is found in each individual and within community. The story line of this show holds all three of my favorite things. Of course, it’s theatrical, but it also reminds audiences why Christmas is special and it evidences the power of community. Remember the importance of each of these things this season, but mostly, remember the importance that YOU have. You have so many opportunities to give joy, encouragement, and warmth this season. You have the power to help bring this world back together, even by starting within the small communities in which you live. Let us each make our worlds a little softer and a little brighter this Christmas.
