You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you. (Psalm 8:2 NLT)
This week our local homeschool theater program will present Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” These young people ages 13-18 have been working several months in rehearsals to present this complex and funny play. I would not suggest Shakespeare as a spiritual mentor for much of anyone, but I have a great deal of respect for his ability to write stories that endure and are engaging.
In this play the relationships of four young lovers from Athens become tangled due to misunderstandings and the mischievous interference of fairies. One of the fairies, Puck, uses a magical love potion that causes people to fall in love with the wrong person. Meanwhile, a group of amateur actors prepares a play, adding humor to the story. Add in the conflict of the fairy king and queen, Oberon and Titania, and chaos ensues. However, by the end of the play, the conflicts are resolved, lovers are correctly paired, and harmony is restored.
While a deep dive into themes of love, illusion, and transformation might appeal to some, that’s not my purpose today. I’m simply asking you to join me in praying for these young people, their director, and the adults supporting them as they present the play this week. In the midst of so much chaos in the world, it’s reassuring to remember that young people are still performing plays and that adults continue to pass down the traditions of literature and art.
God,
Thank you for the many talented people throughout history who have created stories we still enjoy today. We are grateful for the opportunity in this generation to read, remember, perform, and experience those stories. Today, we lift up the cast, crew, and directors of this production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and ask that you grant them health, stamina, and strong preparation this week. We pray that each performance would go smoothly and that the audience would be engaged. We ask these things in the name of Jesus our Lord, AMEN.