This evening I went to ISU Theater's production of The Miracle Worker. It was fabulous, like seriously awesome. The stage was amazing. It was the Keller's house (two floors) plus trees. These trees were painted on canvas and framed the stage like a curtain, they were very detailed and softened the hard lines of the house.

One of my friends from St. Thomas Aquinas is in the show as Kate Keller. She seriously rocked the Southern accent. The gal playing Anne Sullivan did a great job too, adding an Irish touch to everything she said.

The best part of the performance is the 10 minute scene with no dialogue. Anne is trying to teach Helen some manners at the breakfast table. Anne locks herself and Helen alone in the dining room and begins the slow process of teaching Helen to obey the rules, not just follow her whimsy. Helen generally just ate off the plates of the people around her, but Anne made her eat off her own plate with a spoon and a napkin in her lap. Anne wrestles Helen back into her chair when she lays on the floor throwing her legs and arms in a tantrum. Helen runs around the room trying to get away from Anne. Anne makes Helen pick up the spoon off the floor every time she throws it against the wall in exasperation. Anne's persistence is just incredible. She knows that somewhere inside Helen there is an intelligent person ready to bloom, Anne never gives up on Helen.

I can make a Bible reference out of anything, but I think The Miracle Work parallels faith really obviously. God pursues us and his love sets us free. We are a new creation in him (2 Corinthians 5:17) we are unblinded, and given new ears, to see the work of God and hear his voice. I am so thankful to have a God who gave everything for me while I was still undeserving (Romans 5:8). He's the real Miracle Worker.