"Most of us live in Christian neutral, cause if you do something
right, God is given the credit, but if you do something wrong, it's
your fault, so we play it safe and do nothing so that we make sure we
don't do anything wrong. Christianity has become more Buddhist than
Christian."
"You don't have to do the right thing all the time. You just have to
make sure what you're doing you're doing for the right reasons. God
can fix up our messes when we make them. He's good at that."
"Create the future."
- Erwin McManus (speaker at our CRM conference in Santa Barbara this week)
June 19, 2006
June 06, 2006
Managing Summer Media with kids
No more homework, baseball practices, or rigid bedtimes. And, if your house is like my house, no more obvious rules about when media can be on and off. This is a dream for my kids. To me, it often feels nightmarish trying to get them to tune out of their media and tune into the real world.Free Blog about Kids and Media - Common Sense Media Blog
GoFest Opening Night, The Lord's Prayer in Asia
It's always so amazing when performances pull together. The little picture doesn't capture the beauty of how each segment and group was orchestrated with minimal rehearsals (one afternoon on the stage for all 4 dances for the week).
It wasn't flawless, but I want to say that as a person who best worships God through beauty and my senses, this was the most satisfying corporate worship moment I've had in a very long time. Thank you for all you work to give us a taste of the asian aspect of heaven!
Habakkuk 2:14
For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
It wasn't flawless, but I want to say that as a person who best worships God through beauty and my senses, this was the most satisfying corporate worship moment I've had in a very long time. Thank you for all you work to give us a taste of the asian aspect of heaven!
Habakkuk 2:14
For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
May 31, 2006
GOFestAsia, June 6-10
These dancers will be performing every night for the plenary sessions. 7:30 Singapore Expo. Here's some video of their rehearsal. Rough, in a much smaller space than what they'll be using, but still very, very beautiful and worshipful. Lord bless them in these last days of rehearsing before the conference begins.
These gals are working in a space much smaller than the stage they'll use next week, and Don't have ample mirrors to really check for details as they work at unison. But there were no complaints. A sweet group of hard working dancers, a mix of professional and amateurs.
I hear some complaints from artists in Singapore that we don't have enough good training, or opportunities to grow. But I know that if we are feeling impoverished for inspiration, our brothers and sisters in neighboring countries are culturally destitute. We want to offer these little videos as a way to share virtually how art can be used in worship.
These gals are working in a space much smaller than the stage they'll use next week, and Don't have ample mirrors to really check for details as they work at unison. But there were no complaints. A sweet group of hard working dancers, a mix of professional and amateurs.
I hear some complaints from artists in Singapore that we don't have enough good training, or opportunities to grow. But I know that if we are feeling impoverished for inspiration, our brothers and sisters in neighboring countries are culturally destitute. We want to offer these little videos as a way to share virtually how art can be used in worship.
May 18, 2006
Urban Poets-Arts Performing Group in LA
Urban Poets %u203A What We Do
Here's an interesting group that is from MOSAIC a church in Los Angeles...I've heard about them having a unique arts ministry, but only today read about it online. Gotta go check them out. Meet them. Worship together. I'll report back later!
Here's an interesting group that is from MOSAIC a church in Los Angeles...I've heard about them having a unique arts ministry, but only today read about it online. Gotta go check them out. Meet them. Worship together. I'll report back later!
May 01, 2006
Finished it 2 weeks ago.
I was so jazzed about it, I read the extensive AUTHOR'S NOTE aloud to Jim. My son Cameron, who is 9, is reading it now. He's really loving it. The whole time I was reading it I kept thinking, "She's really inside the head of an 8 year old who's trying to figure out his world." Hope I don't mess up his head between fact and fiction on what we know to be true from the Gospels and the rest of the immaculate research she did.
DaVinci code opens here in 3 1/2 weeks, so I'm rejoicing that a BETTER author than Dan Brown looked into the conspiracy theories (and a lot of other theories) and found them severely lacking any evidence. NOW her intellectual brain has submitted to this Lord and hse is writing about it for all of her vampire following (and others to read). Yeah!
April 20, 2006
Ministry thru Theatre as a Profession
Part of my reply to a dramatist friend in North Orange County considering her future using drama as ministry:
I've never made much $ from doing drama as ministry. I wrote an article for a magazine (for free) about this issue and have had a number of people write me that this was helpful in the way they viewed their ministry at the church. Here's a link to it from the blog.
There are some churches who have an "artist in residence" or a drama ministry director, but not the church where my husband was on the pastoral staff. For a few years, the Lord made a way for me to work 2-3 days a week, and have the rest of the time to "work" on the drama ministry stuff. I kept track of my hours and made up a job description, just to have a record of it in case the church were to ever need it. Happily, there NOW is a person who is part time staff over drama at the church. She's one of the people who was doing drama there before I ever got on the scene in 1985, and was faithful in serving as a volunteer all those years (doing professional acting work on the side from time to time).
My husband and I joined CRM in 1997, as missionaries, so we raise support from individuals and a couple of churches. CRM is a great organization and the people who serve with CRM are helping all kinds of people live lives focused on what God has called them to be and do, so they practice what they preach in being my cheerleader as an artist who wants to advance the Kingdom in unconventional ways. (my purpose statement is also blogged! http://kimberlycreasman.blogspot.com).
Perhaps you could use some of the questions there on that site to think through your life and crystalize with the Lord what he's calling you to do that is uniquely YOU. I'd really love it if you posted it as comments there - so that others will be encouraged by another artist finding her way!
Hard to know how many of our supporters would give to us if we were both doing ARTS ministry. Hmmm. My husband works in developing pastors and missionaries - to help them be all they can be as God made them. Sometimes I wonder whether people support us because of his more 'acceptable' ministry, and I get to ride on his shirt-tails. Oh wouldn't HE be surprised if it turned out that many give 'cause of their heart's desire to see arts used more in ministry to Jesus!! Maybe it's good that we'll never know! Never-the-less, God has been very good to us in giving us generous faithful supporters, and we have
never had to resort to used tea bags or living on the streets! Hardly. It is an exciting life of faith to see the $ come when it's needed.
But aren't we ALL walking by faith when it comes to finances and work? From what I remember of what you've told me about yourself, you've been living a life of faith in regards to His provision without being a missionary!
I'm now in discussions with a Theological School here in Singapore that wants to start a new Creative Arts Ministry program, starting this fall with a year certificate program with hopes to grow it eventually to a full degree. The students come from mostly surrounding Asian countries, so it's exciting to think that all this time in Asia, and learning Chinese, and being exposed to and exploring some more Asian styles of theatre will "pay off" in being able to have a broader influence than the small circles here that I've been able to touch....YET, even with this, I've had to write them and say, "we need to talk $" before I work too much more on helping think through what the arts curriculum should include and integrating arts into the
biblical and spiritual life courses in the program.
There are some other drama ministry people you can check out through the CITA website. One group has been around the longest is Artists in Christian Testimony (byron spradlin). And Julisa Rowe. Google them. CITA is full of members who are on a similar journey as yourself!
Also, I saw that Lin Sexton (from Modesto First Baptist and long time CITA member) has a regular article on the worshipleader.com website. I'm also looking into what kind of courses Fuller offers - They have a grad program for Christian Artists. Don't know much about it, but we're going to be in USA for a year in 2007, and I may need more structured academic input if I'm going to be working for this theological school. I'm sure they'd prefer I had more than a BA behind my name. At this point, God only knows.
We'll be in Fullerton and Yorba Linda with our parents off and on this summer. Here's a few possible dates for you and I to get together the first week. Let me know if there's a chance to meet up with YLFC drama folks too! I'd love it. I hear you're having the grand opening of the new church soon - largest facility or seating capacity in OC? I was on the construction site last year - it was pretty impressive - awe inspiring. I also hear that it's getting used for some wonderful events besides worship that are sharing the good news of Jesus to your neighbors. Hope to see you this summer.
I've never made much $ from doing drama as ministry. I wrote an article for a magazine (for free) about this issue and have had a number of people write me that this was helpful in the way they viewed their ministry at the church. Here's a link to it from the blog.
http://spicetolife.blogspot.com/2005/02/should-christian-artists-work-in.html
There are some churches who have an "artist in residence" or a drama ministry director, but not the church where my husband was on the pastoral staff. For a few years, the Lord made a way for me to work 2-3 days a week, and have the rest of the time to "work" on the drama ministry stuff. I kept track of my hours and made up a job description, just to have a record of it in case the church were to ever need it. Happily, there NOW is a person who is part time staff over drama at the church. She's one of the people who was doing drama there before I ever got on the scene in 1985, and was faithful in serving as a volunteer all those years (doing professional acting work on the side from time to time).
My husband and I joined CRM in 1997, as missionaries, so we raise support from individuals and a couple of churches. CRM is a great organization and the people who serve with CRM are helping all kinds of people live lives focused on what God has called them to be and do, so they practice what they preach in being my cheerleader as an artist who wants to advance the Kingdom in unconventional ways. (my purpose statement is also blogged! http://kimberlycreasman.blogspot.com).
Perhaps you could use some of the questions there on that site to think through your life and crystalize with the Lord what he's calling you to do that is uniquely YOU. I'd really love it if you posted it as comments there - so that others will be encouraged by another artist finding her way!
Hard to know how many of our supporters would give to us if we were both doing ARTS ministry. Hmmm. My husband works in developing pastors and missionaries - to help them be all they can be as God made them. Sometimes I wonder whether people support us because of his more 'acceptable' ministry, and I get to ride on his shirt-tails. Oh wouldn't HE be surprised if it turned out that many give 'cause of their heart's desire to see arts used more in ministry to Jesus!! Maybe it's good that we'll never know! Never-the-less, God has been very good to us in giving us generous faithful supporters, and we have
never had to resort to used tea bags or living on the streets! Hardly. It is an exciting life of faith to see the $ come when it's needed.
But aren't we ALL walking by faith when it comes to finances and work? From what I remember of what you've told me about yourself, you've been living a life of faith in regards to His provision without being a missionary!
I'm now in discussions with a Theological School here in Singapore that wants to start a new Creative Arts Ministry program, starting this fall with a year certificate program with hopes to grow it eventually to a full degree. The students come from mostly surrounding Asian countries, so it's exciting to think that all this time in Asia, and learning Chinese, and being exposed to and exploring some more Asian styles of theatre will "pay off" in being able to have a broader influence than the small circles here that I've been able to touch....YET, even with this, I've had to write them and say, "we need to talk $" before I work too much more on helping think through what the arts curriculum should include and integrating arts into the
biblical and spiritual life courses in the program.
There are some other drama ministry people you can check out through the CITA website. One group has been around the longest is Artists in Christian Testimony (byron spradlin). And Julisa Rowe. Google them. CITA is full of members who are on a similar journey as yourself!
Also, I saw that Lin Sexton (from Modesto First Baptist and long time CITA member) has a regular article on the worshipleader.com website. I'm also looking into what kind of courses Fuller offers - They have a grad program for Christian Artists. Don't know much about it, but we're going to be in USA for a year in 2007, and I may need more structured academic input if I'm going to be working for this theological school. I'm sure they'd prefer I had more than a BA behind my name. At this point, God only knows.
We'll be in Fullerton and Yorba Linda with our parents off and on this summer. Here's a few possible dates for you and I to get together the first week. Let me know if there's a chance to meet up with YLFC drama folks too! I'd love it. I hear you're having the grand opening of the new church soon - largest facility or seating capacity in OC? I was on the construction site last year - it was pretty impressive - awe inspiring. I also hear that it's getting used for some wonderful events besides worship that are sharing the good news of Jesus to your neighbors. Hope to see you this summer.
April 07, 2006
The Need of More Mentors for Artists
In my "non-programmatic style of mentoring"
here are some comments I gave in a recent interview for createlevoyage.com
I think the networking of spiritual mentors for artists in Singaore has already started at a very grassroots level. Dawn's idea of LightUp! (networking artist mentors) was good but was not a felt need among those potential mentors. It seems to me that many potential mentors have never had the opportunity to be mentored - or coached - so they don't see how valuable a gift
this is to the younger generation. Most people, almost all people, feel like they're still trying to figure it out, and don't feel like they've got much to offer. But simply knowing how to ask good questions and help people discover answers on their own is a powerful influence on lasting life change and growth. In the past 2 years I've been concentrating a lot on learning about coaching and mentoring with the CRM model, Bobby Clinton and others.
Last year I participated in a Pastor's Mentoring Network (Focused Leaders) that my husband Jim does with pastors and C leaders in the marketplace. I'm hoping that I'll soon get a chance to adapt these wonderful life on life tools for right brained artists like myself and be able to share it with our community. Praying about that. In any case, whether it's through CRM Singapore, or other avenues, I sense that some of these older artists will get a chance to be mentored in the near future, so that they can get passionate about being an understanding and wise coach to the next generation of leaders.
here are some comments I gave in a recent interview for createlevoyage.com
I think the networking of spiritual mentors for artists in Singaore has already started at a very grassroots level. Dawn's idea of LightUp! (networking artist mentors) was good but was not a felt need among those potential mentors. It seems to me that many potential mentors have never had the opportunity to be mentored - or coached - so they don't see how valuable a gift
this is to the younger generation. Most people, almost all people, feel like they're still trying to figure it out, and don't feel like they've got much to offer. But simply knowing how to ask good questions and help people discover answers on their own is a powerful influence on lasting life change and growth. In the past 2 years I've been concentrating a lot on learning about coaching and mentoring with the CRM model, Bobby Clinton and others.
Last year I participated in a Pastor's Mentoring Network (Focused Leaders) that my husband Jim does with pastors and C leaders in the marketplace. I'm hoping that I'll soon get a chance to adapt these wonderful life on life tools for right brained artists like myself and be able to share it with our community. Praying about that. In any case, whether it's through CRM Singapore, or other avenues, I sense that some of these older artists will get a chance to be mentored in the near future, so that they can get passionate about being an understanding and wise coach to the next generation of leaders.
March 12, 2006
Delicious Library
Delicious Library Wowie kazowie! For an "input" person like me, this fun US $40 program for cataloging your personal library using Amazon.com is GREAT. Works much like iphoto, which i love...Thanks Dawn for turning me on to this resource! It adds SPICE TO LIFE!
February 23, 2006
January 05, 2006
NARNIA Cast Party
7 on the 5 star lounge
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly.
More cast party pictures./
With only 1/2 the cast in town, we'll just have to have Cast party part II when the dvd comes out...
November 26, 2005
Great Article on Disney's Narnia & Great Films
Up From the Church Basement, by Cal Thomas (Town Hall)
Here's a teaser:
"Everything those awful movies were ["Christian" Films], this one isn't. It faithfully follows the storyline conceived by C.S. Lewis, the Belfast native, gigantic intellect, Christian apologist and Oxford professor, who died 42 years ago, but whose work continues to sell and challenge the self-indulgent and disbelieving spirit of the age. Lewis believed in taking on the popular philosophies of his day on their own turf, not retreating into religious catacombs.""
Here's a teaser:
"Everything those awful movies were ["Christian" Films], this one isn't. It faithfully follows the storyline conceived by C.S. Lewis, the Belfast native, gigantic intellect, Christian apologist and Oxford professor, who died 42 years ago, but whose work continues to sell and challenge the self-indulgent and disbelieving spirit of the age. Lewis believed in taking on the popular philosophies of his day on their own turf, not retreating into religious catacombs.""
November 20, 2005
This Christmas, Focus on the Family Singapore has been given permission from the National Tourism Board to bring World of Narnia. to Orchard Road from 17-24 December, 12 noon to 9 pm daily, to coincide with Disney’s 22-Dec release of the movie, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” And I've been asked to write and direct the interactive WORLD OF NARNIA - with 4 weeks lead time on this 350,000 project! These folks have BIG FAITH! If you're not familiar with Focus on the Family, it is a Christian organization established to support and build strong families. They offer a wide range of magazines, books, cds, videos and seminars for kids and adults. (the "Adventures in Odyssey" radio drama and video series was produced by this organization). This event is a great way to offer families an affordable adventure to do together over the holiday, as well as give GREAT exposure to the resources this organization has to offer.
November 14, 2005
Artists Gathering 2005 (A4J)
It was a great meeting last night...A nice mix of people...a sweet time of sharing and praying for one another. Wish there were more time to hear from everyone. You are all His WORKMANSHIP or POEM - You're God's original expression of himself to the world. So sweet to see how your craft is shaping up in you and how you reflect his glory!
If you're a Christian and you'd like to join the Arts for Jesus egroup, send a short introduction of yourself, your faith, and your role in the arts. Just click here: Arts for Jesus. Also check out Create le Voyage, our online magazine for Christians in the Arts.
November 06, 2005
COOS Drama Team in the Highlands
Even marriage proposals! "Will you marry me?" is what the signs says! We do things in Groups here...
Marriage Proposal Helpers in Malaysia
IMG_0041.JPG
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly.
Oh did we have a sweet time in Cameron Highlands. I do think this OMF Bungalow is my favourite spot in SE Asia. Paul did some teaching, Peter proposed to Diana, we gave Diamond Ensemble and Enacted Prayer a try and most of us really enjoyed worshipping God in a new way. I think this was a FIRST for some in the group: a retreat where we really retreated for quiet and solitude and relaxation. The "retreats" we're used to here are mostly very RAH RAH with packed schedules of sessions... Not this retreat! Yeah Paul! I especially loved just laying in bed, doing some stitching (a handmade gift for my nephew) and listening to the rain, just wasting time with God like lovers like to do.
October 27, 2005
Grace Drama Team
Grace Drama.JPG
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly.
Tries out different characters for their Christmas sketch. I love having a living room big enough for rehearsals!
September 08, 2005
August 24, 2005
Giving Enacted Prayer a Try
Giving Enacted Prayer a Try
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly.
Had a great evening with Heidi Friesen. She taught us some of what she's learned doing Enacted Prayer while in a college theatre program. A perfect group came. A mix of full time practitioners and those who use drama as their ministry in church.
August 16, 2005
For Nagasaki & Hiroshima
It wasn't the time or place LAST MONDAY AFTERNOON, August 8, 2005 to make my apology to the Japanese people. But I will do it now, and then I'll tell you a story from that day.
My dear Japanese brothers and sisters,
Even though it was not my hands that did the killing, I know that the Japanese people have suffered much because of the devastation of the atomic bombs dropped on the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 60 years ago. For the moment, I want to put all the history aside about the whys and whats and what ifs of that terrible war. For now, I want to say to you that we have not mourned with you the great devastation those bombs brought to the people of your country.
You have had to live with the shame and after effects of putting your country back together. While people around the world were relieved and happy that the war was finally over and countries were being freed of Japanese occupation, your people were mourning the deaths and wounds and sicknesses of so many civilians as a result of those atomic bombs. Since you were the "bad guys," the world has had little empathy for the innocent in your country who have suffered.
You, like myself, are from a new generation who did not participate in this war, yet I know that many of you have wounds and hurts that have been passed on to you as a result of the war. I have been insensitive toward your wounds, both physical and emotional, and as an American, I apologize that it was America who delivered those wounds to you. I am sorry for the pain you have endured because of the way the pacific side of World War II ended in Japan.
I am truly sorry.
My dear Japanese brothers and sisters,
Even though it was not my hands that did the killing, I know that the Japanese people have suffered much because of the devastation of the atomic bombs dropped on the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 60 years ago. For the moment, I want to put all the history aside about the whys and whats and what ifs of that terrible war. For now, I want to say to you that we have not mourned with you the great devastation those bombs brought to the people of your country.
You have had to live with the shame and after effects of putting your country back together. While people around the world were relieved and happy that the war was finally over and countries were being freed of Japanese occupation, your people were mourning the deaths and wounds and sicknesses of so many civilians as a result of those atomic bombs. Since you were the "bad guys," the world has had little empathy for the innocent in your country who have suffered.
You, like myself, are from a new generation who did not participate in this war, yet I know that many of you have wounds and hurts that have been passed on to you as a result of the war. I have been insensitive toward your wounds, both physical and emotional, and as an American, I apologize that it was America who delivered those wounds to you. I am sorry for the pain you have endured because of the way the pacific side of World War II ended in Japan.
I am truly sorry.
A little preaching...
I am not naive to realize that racial hatreds are being birthed and nurtured in other places of the world as we make our reconcilliations about World War II in the Pacific. I don't hold much hope that we'll all get it right and reconcilled this side of heaven. My belief about this world is that a genuine world peace can only come through the Creator's salvation and restoration, and there will always be enemies of God who would rather make their own rules and run their own show. Judging from my experience even among followers who desire to live a life submitted to Jesus being their Lord, this peace and harmony will only be truly known in heaven, when he makes all things new. Only then will we be restored to the way we were supposed to be in the beginning. But we're learning in this life...and sometimes we're getting it right. Because I have experienced the power of being forgiven for my selfish and stubborn nature, it has in turn softened my unforgiveness of others who I thought I'd had the 'right' to hate.
Okay, enough preaching. I want to write about what lead to the above apology.
Okay, enough preaching. I want to write about what lead to the above apology.
Reconcilliation at the Asia Playback Gathering
About twenty participants from the region had selected to participate in a “jam session” as their last workshop for the first ever Asia Playback Gathering the 6-9th of August, 2005. I brought my 8 year old son Cameron along to watch and play with me.
Kayo, of Japan's "Playback AZ," was an impressive leader as she got us started with a game and began conducting the first of the afternoon’s stories. I liked her style. She drew us in, and drew the stories out with her warm, confident, and shepherding personality. After a few fluid sculptures she suggested we allow actors to perform in their own languages. Some of them were wonderful actors and we weren’t getting a chance to see them shine when they were limited by trying to speak in English.
We tried it. A woman from Taiwan shared a story, with English translation, about saying goodbye to her 4 year old son at the airport, and realizing that he was growing up. A group of Japanese actors played the story back for us, in Japanese. It was a clever, artful, touching improvisation. We all understood it because we’d heard the sweet story only minutes before.
Next a group of Chinese from Hong Kong, Singapore and China got up to play a new story back, They were going to use a mix of Mandarin and Cantonese. A Filipino participant, Edward, decided to share a story he said he’d been saving for 2 years. He’d been waiting for the right time to share it and felt this was the setting.
The group became a little uncomfortable as he shared about planning to go to the International Playback Gathering in Japan 2 years ago. He told us about his Filipino grandfather’s strong words, “Why would you want to travel to that country, with all those awful people? Why would you want to spend your time and money in a country with the Japanese?” He replied, “Never mind the Japanese, Grandfather. If I want to learn more about Playback Theatre, I have to go there. I’ll go just for the playback; not for the people.”
Cameron, my son, and I were the only non-Asians in the room. However, I’ve been living in Asia 7 years. That is long enough to learn that the hatred and racism toward the Japanese people is pervasive in this region. Japanese soldiers inflicted unspeakable horrors on Asia during World War II; occupations, mass killings, torture. Many from the generation who experienced these things are still alive, and they have shared their unrequited bitterness with those of us who have come after.
As we listened, Edward went on to tell his story. It turned out differently than it started. It turned into a story about the Japanese “angels” who helped him when he was alone in the train station having missed the last bullet train; the "angel" who had returned to him important belongings he’d inadvertently lost; the "angel" who had welcomed him to the conference when he finally arrived very late on his first night. He finished by saying that he’d learned that the Japanese are kind, friendly and good people. No matter what happened in the war, it is wrong to have such predjudice against the Japanese today.
Wow. We all looked to the Chinese group who’d volunteered to be the actors. If any group hates the Japanese it is the Chinese, but this group did a touching improvisation of Edward's story. It was too bad that the Japanese sitting next to me couldn’t understand the language of the actors as the story wrapped up. It ended with a hug and the actor playing Edward saying in Chinese, “My grandfather was SO wrong.”
The actors all quietly looked to Edward when the piece was finished. It was their offering to him. To us. We let the offering linger in the air for a moment until a Japanese woman broke the silence.
“I’d like to share a feeling,” she said.
She told us how the Japanese playbackers had met before this conference and had anticipated what might happen when Asians got together to share important stories from their lives. “We were prepared for people to hate us. We were prepared for stories that might tell how terrible we are.” They had talked ahead of time about how they should be prepared for racism against them. “Yet, this is the first time in the whole weekend that the issue has come up, and instead of saying how awful we are, you have called us ‘angels.’ We are so relieved and thankful.”
I see a few eyes getting moist as the conductor asks the Chinese group of actors to play this feeling back as a fluid sculpture.
Kayo, the original conductor, also speaks.
“I feel I must say something too. Our people did terrible things to your countries during the war. Even though it was many years ago, and even though it was not my hands that did it, I want to apologize for the things my ancestors have done in the past. I want to say that I am sorry for the things the Japanese people have done to your people in the past. I apologize on behalf of my people.”
The Chinese actors are still standing in front. All of them are openly crying as they play back this apology as a new fluid sculpture.
Astounding. I am a privileged witness of an amazing emotional healing taking place before me in the room. I am not crying. I am too stunned. I am joyfully in awe. I’m quite sure my mouth is hanging open. My hands are holding my heart. It is about to burst. I’m standing in the midst of what feels like a miracle.
Asians are notorious for keeping their feelings inside, for never talking openly about hurts or joys, rarely do they openly showing displays of affection. We once had a Japanese student live with us. She said she loved that we hugged her as she’d never been hugged by her parents. One Chinese friend once told me that they are like a thermos; cold on the outside, but hot on the inside. Yet, on this afternoon in Singapore, as this group decides to sit in a circle to process what has just happened, there are grown men of different Asian races openly weeping and hugging one another.
Different people around the circle share what they are thinking and feeling. One thought she didn’t have any prejudice until that afternoon, and as soon as she realized that there was a corner of her heart that was hateful toward the Japanese, it had disappeared.
Why don’t I have any tears? It’s because I am so filled with hope for the future. I am seeing first hand how easy it is to build bridges of peace and reconciliation with a few genuinely spoken words. I decide to share with the group now sitting in a circle.
We are all one or two generations away from the atrocities of World War II, and yet there has remained, knowingly or subconsciously, a racism that has been inherited from our parents or grandparents. As our generation learns to reconcile like this, we learn that we can live in peace, harmony and genuine friendship.
In my home country of the USA, the races that have the most reason to hold a grudge with American Whites are the African Americans and the American Indians. My adopted son Cameron, who is an ethnic mix of all three of these races, has grown up in Asia. Today he has witnessed everything we’ve all just seen and heard. Yet, despite this, he turned to me in the middle of all the tears around us and said, “Mommy, why are they all crying?”
In his heart of hearts he can’t imagine any reason why this group would be anything other than a bunch of friends from different countries getting together to play and have fun.
THIS IS TANGIBLE HOPE. Our generation has the opportunity to raise the next generation with Cameron's genuine heart of unity and brotherly love across cultures.
We closed our circle time sweetly stumbling through an old song recently recorded by Vince Gill. I just took a moment to look up the lyrics online. They are worth memorizing again.
Let there be peace on earth
and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me
let this be the moment now.
With every step i take
let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
and live each moment
with peace eternally.
Let ther be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me.
Kayo, of Japan's "Playback AZ," was an impressive leader as she got us started with a game and began conducting the first of the afternoon’s stories. I liked her style. She drew us in, and drew the stories out with her warm, confident, and shepherding personality. After a few fluid sculptures she suggested we allow actors to perform in their own languages. Some of them were wonderful actors and we weren’t getting a chance to see them shine when they were limited by trying to speak in English.
We tried it. A woman from Taiwan shared a story, with English translation, about saying goodbye to her 4 year old son at the airport, and realizing that he was growing up. A group of Japanese actors played the story back for us, in Japanese. It was a clever, artful, touching improvisation. We all understood it because we’d heard the sweet story only minutes before.
Next a group of Chinese from Hong Kong, Singapore and China got up to play a new story back, They were going to use a mix of Mandarin and Cantonese. A Filipino participant, Edward, decided to share a story he said he’d been saving for 2 years. He’d been waiting for the right time to share it and felt this was the setting.
The group became a little uncomfortable as he shared about planning to go to the International Playback Gathering in Japan 2 years ago. He told us about his Filipino grandfather’s strong words, “Why would you want to travel to that country, with all those awful people? Why would you want to spend your time and money in a country with the Japanese?” He replied, “Never mind the Japanese, Grandfather. If I want to learn more about Playback Theatre, I have to go there. I’ll go just for the playback; not for the people.”
Cameron, my son, and I were the only non-Asians in the room. However, I’ve been living in Asia 7 years. That is long enough to learn that the hatred and racism toward the Japanese people is pervasive in this region. Japanese soldiers inflicted unspeakable horrors on Asia during World War II; occupations, mass killings, torture. Many from the generation who experienced these things are still alive, and they have shared their unrequited bitterness with those of us who have come after.
As we listened, Edward went on to tell his story. It turned out differently than it started. It turned into a story about the Japanese “angels” who helped him when he was alone in the train station having missed the last bullet train; the "angel" who had returned to him important belongings he’d inadvertently lost; the "angel" who had welcomed him to the conference when he finally arrived very late on his first night. He finished by saying that he’d learned that the Japanese are kind, friendly and good people. No matter what happened in the war, it is wrong to have such predjudice against the Japanese today.
Wow. We all looked to the Chinese group who’d volunteered to be the actors. If any group hates the Japanese it is the Chinese, but this group did a touching improvisation of Edward's story. It was too bad that the Japanese sitting next to me couldn’t understand the language of the actors as the story wrapped up. It ended with a hug and the actor playing Edward saying in Chinese, “My grandfather was SO wrong.”
The actors all quietly looked to Edward when the piece was finished. It was their offering to him. To us. We let the offering linger in the air for a moment until a Japanese woman broke the silence.
“I’d like to share a feeling,” she said.
She told us how the Japanese playbackers had met before this conference and had anticipated what might happen when Asians got together to share important stories from their lives. “We were prepared for people to hate us. We were prepared for stories that might tell how terrible we are.” They had talked ahead of time about how they should be prepared for racism against them. “Yet, this is the first time in the whole weekend that the issue has come up, and instead of saying how awful we are, you have called us ‘angels.’ We are so relieved and thankful.”
I see a few eyes getting moist as the conductor asks the Chinese group of actors to play this feeling back as a fluid sculpture.
Kayo, the original conductor, also speaks.
“I feel I must say something too. Our people did terrible things to your countries during the war. Even though it was many years ago, and even though it was not my hands that did it, I want to apologize for the things my ancestors have done in the past. I want to say that I am sorry for the things the Japanese people have done to your people in the past. I apologize on behalf of my people.”
The Chinese actors are still standing in front. All of them are openly crying as they play back this apology as a new fluid sculpture.
Astounding. I am a privileged witness of an amazing emotional healing taking place before me in the room. I am not crying. I am too stunned. I am joyfully in awe. I’m quite sure my mouth is hanging open. My hands are holding my heart. It is about to burst. I’m standing in the midst of what feels like a miracle.
Asians are notorious for keeping their feelings inside, for never talking openly about hurts or joys, rarely do they openly showing displays of affection. We once had a Japanese student live with us. She said she loved that we hugged her as she’d never been hugged by her parents. One Chinese friend once told me that they are like a thermos; cold on the outside, but hot on the inside. Yet, on this afternoon in Singapore, as this group decides to sit in a circle to process what has just happened, there are grown men of different Asian races openly weeping and hugging one another.
Different people around the circle share what they are thinking and feeling. One thought she didn’t have any prejudice until that afternoon, and as soon as she realized that there was a corner of her heart that was hateful toward the Japanese, it had disappeared.
Why don’t I have any tears? It’s because I am so filled with hope for the future. I am seeing first hand how easy it is to build bridges of peace and reconciliation with a few genuinely spoken words. I decide to share with the group now sitting in a circle.
We are all one or two generations away from the atrocities of World War II, and yet there has remained, knowingly or subconsciously, a racism that has been inherited from our parents or grandparents. As our generation learns to reconcile like this, we learn that we can live in peace, harmony and genuine friendship.
In my home country of the USA, the races that have the most reason to hold a grudge with American Whites are the African Americans and the American Indians. My adopted son Cameron, who is an ethnic mix of all three of these races, has grown up in Asia. Today he has witnessed everything we’ve all just seen and heard. Yet, despite this, he turned to me in the middle of all the tears around us and said, “Mommy, why are they all crying?”
In his heart of hearts he can’t imagine any reason why this group would be anything other than a bunch of friends from different countries getting together to play and have fun.
THIS IS TANGIBLE HOPE. Our generation has the opportunity to raise the next generation with Cameron's genuine heart of unity and brotherly love across cultures.
We closed our circle time sweetly stumbling through an old song recently recorded by Vince Gill. I just took a moment to look up the lyrics online. They are worth memorizing again.
Let there be peace on earth
and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me
let this be the moment now.
With every step i take
let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
and live each moment
with peace eternally.
Let ther be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me.
May 28, 2005
Check Out PLAYBACK "TOO BUSY FOR YOU!"
This is new theatre form for me. I've been stretched this year with Tapestry Playback Theatre group to grow in improvisation. I like to think of Playback Theatre as "Who's Line is it Anyway" with a purpose. We take stories from the audience and play it back for them in different ways.
This coming Saturday is my second forray into a performance. Tapestry has been performing in Choa Chu Kang (that's pretty far out of the downtown area) but this time around it will be held in our new home. We are moving this Monday (We're spending our last 2 nights in Tampines among a LOT of boxes. (We're excited about the move to town!) Check out the view!
"TOO BUSY FOR YOU! - Life in Singapore"
Are you too busy for me? If you're reading from Singapore, come check it out and give me a housewarming by telling one of your stories about life in the fast lane of Singapore!
Emsemble: Agnes Law (Conductor)
Anne Chua (Actor / Musician)
Sia Ee Mien (Actor)
Kimberly Creasman (Actor)
Jerry Louis (Actor / Musician)
Date: Saturday 4 June 2005
Time: 8pm (Please be seated by 7.30pm)
Venue: Private Apartment in Teresa Ville,
1007, Lower Delta Road, #23-04
Ticket price: $10* pp
(Seats are limited, call early to avoid disappointment)
*Special 10% discount for groups of 5 and students
Confirmation of your tickets through cash / cheque payment within a
week of booking. Please call or sms Jerry at 90093679 if you would
have queries.
May 25, 2005
Kurk lives out his fantasy for 5 seconds...
Kurk, the King
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly.
Grace Drama initiates my super find at the Barang Barang Warehouse: "The Five Star Lounge," while reheasing in our new apartment on Thursday nights.
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