This is not a review of the play because there's really nothing one can say about a fairy tale such as Cinderella. As for the performances, I refrain from making a comment because my being a huge Lea Salonga fan disqualifies me from saying anything objective. I must state, however, that I loved the play if only for a particular scene with which I was able to resonate deeply.
I'm referring to the scene where Cinderella heard the news that the prince was having a ball. There she was, in her old, worn-out, tattered clothes, being handed the invitation to the ball by the herald, being told that something important and special was about to happen, and wondering, with much anticipation, but with loads of doubt, whether this could have anything to do with her. There was excitement in her voice and a spring in her step even as her mind could not comprehend how such a wonderful thing can happen to someone so ordinary.
Watching this scene, I couldn't help but think of the many times the exact same thing has happened to me. How many times have I prayed and heard a favorable response from God but still doubted and hesitated if it was really meant for me? How many times have I been invited to partake of His blessings and still found myself asking, 'Could this be for real? Could I be the one?' How many times have I witnessed His greatness and still had the temerity to ask, 'Could it really be possible? Could I really be part of something this beautiful?' How many times have I denied the hope in my heart because I was too afraid to trust? And how many times has He proven me wrong every time I would insist that I am not a worthy recipient of His favors or that I will never be good enough to deserve His blessings?
For reasons that should be obvious to people who are close to me, Cinderella is the last character in the world I could possibly identify with. I once attended a retreat where the speaker asked us to name the fairy tale character we can identify with the most and I remember saying that even as a child, I've always been fascinated with the feisty, no-nonsense Little Red Riding Hood. My group mates chided me and told me that's not even a fairy tale! To that, I curtly replied:"Precisely."
Tonight, however, I realized that no matter how old or jaded you are, no matter how much you can claim that you've seen the worst in this world and no fairy tale can change the way you view things, no matter how bitter, indifferent or incapable you have become of dreaming and wishing for good things to happen, there will always be a part of you that cannot deny HOPE. Because you know that notwithstanding your resentments and apparent unworthiness, there's no escaping God's love. And His invitation isn't too good to be true but, as others would put it, too good to be false.
So yes, there's really nothing much to say about a story lke Cinderella, except that it has made me aware that when God sends out an invitation to be part of something beautiful, it is His way of reminding me that He has made me worthy and that He will never be outdone in His generosity. So now I can say with much conviction: The Lord is my portion and my cup. He has made my lot secure. Surely, my boundaries have fallen in all the right places.
I'm referring to the scene where Cinderella heard the news that the prince was having a ball. There she was, in her old, worn-out, tattered clothes, being handed the invitation to the ball by the herald, being told that something important and special was about to happen, and wondering, with much anticipation, but with loads of doubt, whether this could have anything to do with her. There was excitement in her voice and a spring in her step even as her mind could not comprehend how such a wonderful thing can happen to someone so ordinary.
Watching this scene, I couldn't help but think of the many times the exact same thing has happened to me. How many times have I prayed and heard a favorable response from God but still doubted and hesitated if it was really meant for me? How many times have I been invited to partake of His blessings and still found myself asking, 'Could this be for real? Could I be the one?' How many times have I witnessed His greatness and still had the temerity to ask, 'Could it really be possible? Could I really be part of something this beautiful?' How many times have I denied the hope in my heart because I was too afraid to trust? And how many times has He proven me wrong every time I would insist that I am not a worthy recipient of His favors or that I will never be good enough to deserve His blessings?
For reasons that should be obvious to people who are close to me, Cinderella is the last character in the world I could possibly identify with. I once attended a retreat where the speaker asked us to name the fairy tale character we can identify with the most and I remember saying that even as a child, I've always been fascinated with the feisty, no-nonsense Little Red Riding Hood. My group mates chided me and told me that's not even a fairy tale! To that, I curtly replied:"Precisely."
Tonight, however, I realized that no matter how old or jaded you are, no matter how much you can claim that you've seen the worst in this world and no fairy tale can change the way you view things, no matter how bitter, indifferent or incapable you have become of dreaming and wishing for good things to happen, there will always be a part of you that cannot deny HOPE. Because you know that notwithstanding your resentments and apparent unworthiness, there's no escaping God's love. And His invitation isn't too good to be true but, as others would put it, too good to be false.
So yes, there's really nothing much to say about a story lke Cinderella, except that it has made me aware that when God sends out an invitation to be part of something beautiful, it is His way of reminding me that He has made me worthy and that He will never be outdone in His generosity. So now I can say with much conviction: The Lord is my portion and my cup. He has made my lot secure. Surely, my boundaries have fallen in all the right places.
0 comments:
Post a Comment