Arky, Arky

Many years ago, when my children were small, Psalty and the Praise Kids albums were very popular. They were always playing in our car...one of those songs starts, "The Lord said to Noah, 'There's going to be a floody, floody...get those animals out of the muddy, muddy, children of the Lord.'" I would make light of all this, but with the situation the way it is with the rain in parts of Virginia and other areas, it's not a laughing matter.

Last weekend my daughter and I traveled to Waynesboro, Virginia to attend a baby shower for my son and daughter-in-law. (Did I tell you I was going to be a grandmother?) We left on Thursday after Sarah had worked for a half-day, and at the motel there was a USA Today for the taking. When I opened up the paper to the entertainment section, there was a full-page article about the new movie "Evan Almighty." A sequel to "Bruce Almighty", this movie is being filmed in Waynesboro and the surrounding area.

When we drove through town, I noticed new street lights and a freshening of the city. When I mentioned it to David, he said, "Mom, they're filming "Evan Almighty"here." Duh. I asked him why he didn't get a part. He said he thought about it, but it only pays $8.00 an hour, so he declined.


 
The newspaper said that an ark of biblical proportions was being built in Crozet, a community about 12 miles from Waynesboro. Off we went on Saturday afternoon to see it. There it is right in the middle of a subdivision that is being developed. As you can see in the second photo, there is a brand new house right beside it. David said that the film company is paying the people's mortgages while they're there.

There was a steady stream of cars driving by. When we stopped, the guard said, "Hurry up and take your picture."
 
So we did.

I was reminded of a trip I made to Philadelphia to visit some missionary friends from Haiti a few years ago. David was interning at Carpenter Technology in Reading PA, and we met him for lunch in Lancaster. After David left, Shirley and I went to the Millenium Theater and saw the production of Noah. The first half of the play is the building of the ark. At the end of the first half, Noah and his family and the animals walk up the center aisle and enter the ark.

As the second half starts, you're inside the ark with Noah, his family, and all the animals. The rain and thunder starts, and the people who had mocked him, are pounding on the ark, hoping to gain entrance.

After the rains stop, and the waters recede, Noah and his family come out of the ark. As they are coming out, the sides of the ark fall away, and the cross is left standing. I had goosebumps throughout the production. Realizing that the ark in the Old Testament was a foreshadowing of Christ, who is our ark of safety.

If you ever have the opportunity to see a production there, it is not to be missed.