TGIF: HOW WAS YOUR DAY?

Teaser: Why does the ending of this story always give me the giggles?

It’s Good Friday and my mind drifts back some 30 years to Crestmont and what transpired there that day. The memory is always a chucklesome moment. Curious? Let me set the scene leading up to this moment.

I am the Secretary for Program and the then Captain Kenneth Hodder is my event-producing sidekick. The event this day is a dramatization of Good Friday, staged on the terrace of The Salvation Army College for Officer Training pictured here:

Picture a wooden cross centered on the terrace just above the steps. Below the steps are folding chairs spread out across the grass and cement walkway. Every seat is filled, as we had promoted the event throughout the Rancho Palos Verdes community, our neighbors flocking in for the occasion.

Seated front and center below the steps are our territorial leaders with special guests, our national leaders, Commissioners James and Ruth Osborn. We are sitting in the row directly behind them waiting in anticipation for the show to begin. As you can imagine, the atmosphere is festive, all anticipating the drama about to unfold. Little did they know...

Backstage is the cast of characters, represented by the cadet body, Cadet Stephen Ball portraying the figure of Christ. Professionally costumed, they enter stage left and right, all beautifully choreographed under the direction of Hodder.

As the story unfolds, the music begins to crescendo as Jesus is beaten and then hung on the cross. As he hangs there, the Cadet Chorus begins to sing, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” After their song, the shrill of the trumpets sound and the timpani pounds, climactically, as his body sags and head bows, signifying his death. It has its desired effect, leaving the audience spellbound, all quietly absorbing fully, the message of the cross.

After a lull, the music begins to decrescendo. The soldiers move to take him down from the cross. All is quiet and still except for the sound of a siren off in the distance. Slowly, they lower him. Whoops! The long-haired wig Jesus is wearing catches on a nail, revealing a short-haired Jesus.

Suddenly, Jesus comes back to life, prematurely. He reaches up and grabs the wig, replacing it before quickly dying again.

As the producer, I look aghast at the spectacle unfolding. Slinking down in my chair, trying to disappear, Commissioner Ruth, sitting directly in front of me, begins to giggle. It releases those around her and they too begin to giggle. Pretty soon, the whole row is giggling, myself included.

And when Jesus comes out with the cast for a final bow, he gets a standing ovation, this hair-raising miracle not recorded in Scripture.

Note: The word “Friday” comes from the Latin word “dies ferus,” meaning “day of freedom.” And that truly is what makes Good Friday Good.

SET FREE!

A GOOD reason for all the redeemed to smile and giggle.

“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it” –Psalm 118:24. And… Thank God It’s Friday!

HOW WAS YOUR DAY?

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