In Search of an ...

 

When was the last time you read a book, a play, saw a musical or watched a movie, and you were completely lost by the final outcome? Even worse than this when, were you unable to figure out the conclusion before the closing credits? In a play, the last scene is called the denouement (the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and all matters are explained or resolved). As Christians, we all know the story of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Joseph, Jesus, and the outcome of the Nativity. How everything unfolded in a manger because there was no room for them in an Inn. However, why would GOD choose to share redemption in this way? Now I am not talking about how the scriptures were fulfilled from Genesis through Malachi. Long before the scriptures were written GOD the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the HOLY SPIRIT decided in their omniscience to bring redemption by the Nativity. For me, understanding why Jesus choose to come in this manner was discovered by studying two unique stories and then applying the lessons I learned to a third story.

I love to watch movies and figure out what the outcome will be. It has been a long time since I saw a piece of fiction, which provided absolutely no clues to how the story would conclude. Today it is impossible to find anything, which remains a mystery in the realm of storytelling. Yet, after 2021 years why does the purpose of the Nativity still evade struggling humanity?

I would like us to briefly examine three separate stories whose characters are in search of an exit. Each story has “Five Characters” challenging the reader/audience to follow the plot with eager anticipation yet unaware of the history of the “Five Characters” backstory, demise, and denouement. Some stories may be familiar, in any event, today let’s follow along the plot to learn the outcome. Since the audience is in the dark as much as the main characters are, all we can do is project our feelings onto them and infer the meaning of the unexplainable. As a result, whether intended or not intended, studying the “Five Characters” in each story provides us an unending look into humanity’s way of thinking and our role as a part of humanity.

 

The Depository

Our first story originally written in 1921 by Luigi Pirandello has been reproduced several times; I would like us to examine one illustration of the story. It opens with The Major, a military man in full uniform, waking up in a giant, silver tube. The tube is round and has no imperfections or entrance/exit points. The Major, unaware of who he is or what happened to him begins to feverishly pound on every surface, trying to find a way out. During his search, he bumps into The Clown, a laughing in song-and-dance who harmoniously tells The Major his efforts are in vain.

Once he finally gets his bearings, The Major meets other members in his seemingly doomed scenario: The Hobo, The Bagpiper, and The Ballerina. United with the Major and the Clown they are Five Characters in search of an exit. Just like The Major, they have no idea where they are; what happened to them, or even who they are. Looking at their clothes and accessories, they assume they must be what they look like.

Everyone, with the exception of the Major, has resigned themselves to their doomed fate. The tube is impregnable and their lot in life is to simply exist without purpose. The Clown wonders if this is all a dream and if the other four people are figments of the dream.

But who is dreaming? The Hobo assumes he is in Purgatory while The Major loudly states that they are all clearly in hell. However, one thing is clear: no one has any desire to “leave”, they are comfortable, and content, whatever that truly means, at least until The Major arrived.

Despite the convincing fatalism displayed by The Clown, The Hobo, The Bagpiper, and The Ballerina eventually they each warm-up to The Major’s desire to escape. The only way to escape their demise… is up… and the only clue anything exists outside the cylinder is the occasional, earth-shaking sound of a church bell that comes at seemingly random times. Therefore, up they go.

Piled on top of each other’s shoulders, one by one, the characters reach for a presumed precipice. However, with only five of them, they are literally inches short of grasping it. After a random bell sound startles their concentration, they all teeter and come falling all down, The Major decides to try again, this time using a piece of rope from The Clown’s costume, and his own sword to act as a grappling hook. The Major succeeds in reaching the precipice but falls over the edge, landing in an endless landscape of what looks like snow. The remaining characters, looking up, assume his bravery was foolhardy and pointless, though The Ballerina does hope The Major will return to rescue them.

Now we the audience’s view goes to a little girl who picks up a doll that looks exactly like The Major out of the snow on a busy New York street. The little girl places the doll back in the garbage can used to collect dolls for a Christmas Salvation Army drive. The Donation worker, casually clanging her bell from time to time to bring attention to the drive, pauses to thank the girl for picking the doll up, and carries on with her night, hoping more dolls will be delivered.

We the audience return, one last time, to the cylindrical room, where all Five Characters are dolls, seemingly without life and, at this moment, without meaning. Before the final curtain, we see The Ballerina grabbing The Major’s hand as tears run down her wooden face.

Consider how the five characters represent humanity in search of an exit. The Hobo is simply along for the ride, pondering what’s next. While the Ballerina is a dreamer, wandering without actually acting. The Clown is all about the status quo and is the most forceful character. While The Bagpiper is simply existing, refusing to be an active participant. The Major is the outsider who tries to motivate and make them think outside the box, literally and figuratively because, after all, he knows best.

So why were they lost and confused? Because the author had not written himself into the story to tell each of them why they were created, and how much he loves them. Yes, this one key fact makes it impossible for “The Major, The Clown, The Hobo, The Bagpiper, and The Ballerina to truly know the Author!

 

Hamlet

Our next story has Five characters in search of an exit with hidden agendas and although written between 1599 and 1601 with language in beauty and form we the reader often become lost and confused. I read the story twice, first in 1973, and then again, in 1977, and in 1978 I even did a book report and passed the assignment. However, I had no clue of everything, which had occurred in the play. It was not until I went and saw the play, becoming an active participant if you will that the play made sense. I am referring to Hamlet, by William Shakespeare.

Here is the plot, the ghost of the King of Denmark tells his son Hamlet to avenge his murder by killing the new king, Hamlet's uncle. Hamlet pretends he is mad, contemplates life and death, and seeks revenge. His uncle, fearing for his life, also devises plots to kill young Hamlet. The play ends with a duel, during which the King, Queen, and Hamlet himself are all killed.

Consider how the five characters represent humanity in search of an exit.

Hamlet The Prince of Denmark, the title character, and the protagonist represents Humanity who are forever plagued with contradictions in this vail of tears called life. Hamlet arrogantly attempts to convince his fellow characters and we the audience to follow him because after all, he knows best.

Claudius. The King of Denmark, Hamlet's uncle, and the play's antagonist represent Humanities arrogance. Claudius is all about the status quo and is the most forceful character.

Gertrude. The Queen of Denmark, Hamlet's mother, recently married to Claudius represents complacency. Gertrude is simply existing, refusing to be an active participant.

Horatio is Hamlet’s close friend, who studied with the prince at the university in Wittenberg. Horatio is loyal and helpful to Hamlet throughout the play. After Hamlet’s death, Horatio remains alive to tell Hamlet’s story. Although Horatio is simply along for the ride, pondering what is next.

Ophelia is Polonius's daughter, and Hamlet's former love interest and she represents submission. Ophelia is a dreamer, wandering without actually acting.

We know Hamlet’s story, yet Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, and Horatio are all lost in life searching for an exit. Each character is trapped, by their circumstances, both self-imposed and chronological by circumstances. Much like when a small pebble is dropped into a still small body of water ripples occur consecutively. So why were they lost and confused? Why were they trapped by their circumstances? Because the author had not written himself into the story. The only way for Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, and Horatio to know the author was if He were a character in the play and they were introduced to HIM. If Shakespeare appeared in the exposition of the play each character would know why they were chosen. Since the author did not choose to write himself into the story all hope is lost, and they are merely characters on the stage of life.

Perhaps Napoleon Bonaparte said it best “In this life, we are either Kings or Pawns, Emperors or Fools” (Napoleon Bonaparte 1821). 

The Nativity

Our final story was written before the foundation of the world opened around AD 4. It is a familiar story of lost faith, restored hope, and eternal salvation. I am speaking about the story of the Nativity. The Nativity Story reminds us we live in a fallen and fatigued world in search of an exit. I believe I Corinthians chapter 2 verse 16 provides hope and direction for the only safe exit called salvation. When we read scripture, we must ask ourselves who wrote it, when was it written, to whom was it written, and how does it apply to me today. Consider I Cor 2:9 it was written to a broken church, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” We have the mind of Christ as a valuable resource to comprehend the best we can how to live life and arrive at the exit of life prepared to enter eternity. We have a duty to learn as best we can, to digest as best we can, to understand as best we can, to apply as best we can, to live as best we can, and to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ as best we can, as long as forever and forever we can.

As a child growing up in the Military we only had Base Chaplains, and they would rotate each Sunday, therefore, we seldom were in a location to have a Pastor. One of our first pastors was Pastor Harvey of a small Wesleyan Methodist Church located in Greer South Carolina. This small vibrant body of Christ is where my family, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins worshiped. Yes, beginning after the Great depression for over 60 years Moma’s family worshiped in this small community of believers. As many of you know, my Father served for over 30 years in the USAF. Before moving to Greer SC, we were stationed in Panama City at Tyndale AFB. It is from there we would move from Florida to Greer SC while my father served in Vietnam. It was a happy time, my mother was able to reunite at her home church serving as pianist and our family could worship together. It is still there located on Hwy 101 by the RR track and Sunnyside Drive. I remember many things about that small body of Christ.

v Pastor Harvey would stand up each Advent season and recite from memory Luke chapter 2 all 52 verses.

v Prior to Maundy Thursday, we would each receive a small purple bag in which we would collect and place 30 pieces of silver. Then on Maundy Thursday after the service, each person was invited to the church vestibule. There was an old rugged cross, and each member would take a nail and nail their bag to the cross symbolizing our sins were nailed to the cross of Christ.

v Sunday night Pastor Harvey would teach The Book of Discipline

v Pastor Harvey had one daughter Angela and we were the same age although I attended Holly Springs Motlow, and she attended Greer.

Now Angela was as beautiful inside as she was on the outside. We were in the same Sunday School class. I was amazed at how she shared her faith in little consistent ways. She made a difference in my life introducing me to true friendship, witnessing through actions, and how vital it is to belong to a community of faith. Angela even introduced me to grief. It was on a Sunday night when our family showed up for the study, and the Chairman of Trustees greeted Momma. He informed us the study had to be canceled tonight.

Tragically, that afternoon Angela had been playing near the RR tracks, and something happened and she was struck and killed by an oncoming train.

I do not know why it happened. I do know that 52 years later I remember the strength of Angela’s faith because she became part of my story. She loved the story of how GOD came down in the person of Jesus and shared the love of GOD.

Consider how these next five characters represent humanity in search of an exit.

Let’s look at the familiar story of the Nativity: 

The Shepherds represent eyewitnesses: Those who observe, dream, and often wonder without actually acting.

The Innkeeper represents affluence: The status quo and is the most forceful character

The town’s people of Bethlehem represent complacency: How people are simply along for the ride, pondering what is next.

Herod the Great represents the massacre of innocents: He is the outsider who tries to make humanity think his way because after all, he knows best.

Mary and Joseph represent deliverance: How the Author GOD decided to write Himself JESUS into the world’s story.

Praise GOD for He wrote himself into the story of humanity in the person of Jesus the Messiah representing salvation.

So when uncertainty arrives and you feel:

v Trapped with no way out of a proverbial  giant, silver tube with no entrance or exit points

When the cruelty of humanity rears its head, or when sickness and death arrive and you feel:

v Trapped with no way out of life’s non-ending duel of antagonist

When the commerciality of Christmas disregards the miracle of the Nativity and you feel:

v Lost and alone

Remember how the author of all that is or will ever be before the foundation of the world wrote Himself into our story in a little town called Bethlehem. How He chose to come in the form of a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. How He lived, how He willing laid down His life. How He rose from the dead three days later, and how He imparted His Holy Spirit to us to comfort us until He comes again, or until He calls us home. For the author of my story, your story, and the world’s story is Jesus Christ the Son of GOD!

Two songs have been going through my mind and heart during Advent:

v The Yearning

v I look to You

If you are not familiar with the second song, I Look to You, I would like to share the lyrics.

Lyrics I look to You!

As I lay me down
Heaven hear me now
I'm lost without a cause
After giving it my all

Winter storms have come
And darkened my sun
After all that I've been through
Who on earth can I turn to

I look to you

 

After all my strength is gone
In you I can be strong

And when melodies are gone
In you I hear a song

I look to you

 

After losing my breath
There's no more fighting left
Sinking to rise no more
Searching for that open door

And every road that I've taken

Led to my regret, I look to you

 

And I don't know if I'm gonna make it
Nothing to do but lift my head

And when all my strength is gone
In you I can be strong, I look to you

 

And when melodies are gone
In you, I hear a song

Coming down on me

All the rain is falling

Set me free

Take me far away from the battle
I need you
Shine on me

I look to you

After all my strength has gone
In you, I can be strong

And when melodies are gone
In you, I hear a song

I look to you

 

As we near 2022 let us consider the one key difference in the three stories. In the Nativity Jesus, the author wrote himself into our story, yesterday, today, tomorrow, and forever Amen.