I celebrated by attending a concert that I have literally been waiting for excitedly for the past 3 years!!! It's true. I attended tonight the opening performance of Andrew Peterson's annual "Behold the Lamb of God" tour, which he does every Christmas season. Many years ago, I picked up the recorded album version of this show and was immediately captivated. Around three years ago, Andrew Peterson came to Iowa on this December tour, but they sold it out about a few hours before I went to get advance tickets. That day I vowed that I would attend the next show of this tour that came anywhere near me. Which brings us forward to TONIGHT!!
What is this show anyway? Why am I so excited about it? Well, in a nutshell, it's designed as a single musical unit, rather than separate songs -- that is, each song in this show tells part of a story, and they're played in order without any interruptions. What story? Why, the greatest story ever told! The story of how God came to earth to restore His creation into relationship with Him once again, simply the greatest story of redemption and love and triumph through sorrow and hope long-delayed at-last fulfilled and all things made new in Him. "Oh, sing out for joy, for that brave little boy!" And truth be told, of all the musical versions of the story of the true meaning of Christmas, Andrew Peterson's "Behold the Lamb of God" is the best. Because it tells the full story, starting way back in Genesis. And because it's just plain awesome music and words and passion and Truth.
With my 3-year pilgramage at last come to an end, could the show actually live up to my expectations?
No. It surpased them. Amen. One of the most profound evenings of pure worship and joy I have ever experienced. I think the beautiful mystery of Advent became just a bit more real for me tonight. I hope I am never the same again. Celebrate!
PS - Check out the music for yourself -- a friend of the artist created a web player for the whole album, which you can find from AP's blog site here.
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