I have been very busy with work the past few weeks that our Lenten activities have been quite simple. We ate through The Very Hungry Caterpillar and made our own story play set to demonstrate what Lent is all about – transformation and rebirth. For most of the 40 days of Lent, we just read and re-read the Passion narrative in our Bible storybooks.
Go Tell It On The Mountain
I comforted myself with Little T’s participation in our parish’s Easter Sunday celebration. Her wish last year to be one of the singing angels during the salubong, the imagined first meeting of Jesus and Mary after the Resurrection, has come true.
Together with 25 other children, my daughter joyfully sang and danced to an adapted version of Go Tell It On TheMountain, traditionally a Christmas song:
Go tell it on the mountain (cup hands around mouth)
Over the hills and everywhere (wave right arm then left arm)
Go tell it on the mountain (cup hands around mouth)
Jesus Christ is risen (raise both arms)
Hallelujah! (praying hands)
Not Just A Performance
I tell myself that the whole experience – three Sunday practices, one final rehearsal, and their performance – was a lesson in itself. She was part of a big group of kids, made friends on her own (as we purposely did not go with her to practices), and worked with adults other than us, her parents.
Most importantly, I am glad that her labors were not just for a performance geared towards pleasing the participants’ parents. It had actual value in the celebration of Easter, it had value in our community. It was not a performance for performance’s sake. As Lenten studies go, this one tops my list.
Make magic!
