Free to Be

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss

Last night through the generous gift of a friend, I went to see The Shunning at MTC. The story is bleak, set in the Canadian prairies, showcasing the “exile” of a church member who begins to think outside the box regarding God. He refuses to humble himself and submit to the church and God and this pride leads to his shunning. As the drama unfolds, the audience sees an unraveling of a community as the pastor pressures everyone to see the errors of this man’s ways. His marriage falls apart. His friends stop coming by. His brother appears to be the only one who cuts him slack.

Though the play focuses on Mennonites, the concept of a church trying to control the thinking of its congregation is broader. Conforming to the beliefs can be suffocating. Jesus taught another way—the way of love. He showed on numerous occasions that following the letter of the law was not the way. I think the sad thing about the play was that the protagonist did not lose his faith; he just stopped believing in the way he had believed. What happens when we have a shift that brings us to a new level of believing? If Jacob wrestled with God and still was his friend, what makes it wrong when the rest of us do the same?

There was lots to think about after seeing this play. I would still recommend it.

Peace,

Suzanne