Youth Vision Festival ’08

A Church has set up a talent show for the audience, to show each person’s distinctive skill. When I walked into the auditorium inside the church, I did not expect anything more than a couple of students who were going to show off their own talents. My instincts told me, “It is just fun to watch, but I doubt I will see anyone execute an extraordinary act.” Never was I proven so wrong. My expectations were very low, but as I saw each act after another, my eyes grew bigger and bigger; each and every performance was shocking to a degree where my eyes did not want to close shut. So, I will tell you what was so great about these performances: the passion, the uplifting of spirits, and the message that each performance was able to portray. A perfect name given to this type of talent show: “The Vision Festival 2008.”

The “Sa Mool No Li” followed by the “Slam Poetry” started the night. The “Sa Mool No Li” is the playing of Korean drums. This specific performance consisted of seven children: two playing a bass sounding drum, two playing small high-pitched gongs, one playing the big gong, and two playing higher-pitched drums. The synchronized playing of these young children, where the smaller gongs led the group, made striking and beautiful sounds where there was a crescendo in the music sound. A piano sound leading into a forte sound is a task easy to accomplish; however, to execute this task with six other people with different instruments is difficult. Listening to the “perfection” of sounds and notes being played without err was not only lovely, but also lively.

“Poetry sucks,” was the first thing I thought when I had heard that someone was performing a “Slam Poetry.” If there is one thing about poetry I learned after this slam, it is not the “poetry” itself that should be despised by me, but it is the way that people dictate poetry that I should abhor. Poetry is a way to express one’s emotions. Although a regular way of speech can be used to articulate one’s feelings, a rant helps you to get rid of that anger, that rage, that annoyance; in this case, the detestation of the deterioration of life, and the world. Her words seemed to have no complexity, but the utterance she made was deep. Money deteriorates us. The dilapidated places in the world because of war need peace. Because war causes deterioration, we will eventually destroy our own world causing it to fall into ruin. Peace is the only thing that will not corrupt this world. “Life runs on more than motivation.” She conveyed a message that silenced the audience; they were overwhelmed by her words. Her poetry. Her “Slam” poetry.

Following several performances was the “Life-house skit.” I, however, would not use the word “Life-house” to define this performance. This was something more. The act had nine students–one represented Jesus; one a human; and the other seven, the seven deadly sins. The human had a life of happiness, one with spiritual strength. However, when being tempted by sins, she finds herself fallen into darkness, into a place where all hope seems lost. Is she happy? Is this the life she wants? No, it isn’t. Not a single sign of happiness was shown when being tempted. Later, the person signifying Jesus comes and pulls the human back, and shields the girl from the sins. She is finally without sin. Now you ask yourself the same question, “Is she happy? Is this the life she wants?” This time, however, it is apparent that she is happy and that she is living the life she wants. The happiness that flowed through her was unexplainable. With her spirit overflowing, her life was complemented by Jesus’ love. You are probably wondering all this whole time what I think this “Life-house skit” should be renamed as. To be able to describe this skit in one word is impossible. However, if I were forced to name it, it would be called “Everlasting.” God did not leave the girl alone when she had fallen into sin. His love was with her from the start and until the “end” (There is no end to “everlasting”). Everything He has to offer is “Everlasting.”

I can learn a lot from all these young children. “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is definitely a saying that will not only apply to books, but also to people. Judging the performers by their age, I had low expectations, however, not only were the performances spectacular, but they were also educating for those who study theology. Being a show that is played only once a year, it will be missed. “Youth Vision Festival” put on performances that blew my mind away. I will be looking forward to next year’s performances with high expectations.