Climb every mountain

THAT'S a title of a song, from the vastly popular movie, "Sound of Music." But that was long time ago. By today's standards, the song should be considered "condemned."

Well, the breaking news is that it's not. On the contrary it is now one of the "in" things among the young. I find it truly strange, but of course I'm happy with this new development. It's one mystery in life I find most pleasant and welcome.
You see, I was driving one day when I happened to tune in to the radio. At one point the announcer said she was going to play "the latest" record done by the winner of the Australian Idol show, Guy Sebastian.

Curious, I waited to hear a completely new song. It turned out to be "Climb Every Mountain," which to my memory was sung by the Mother Superior to her erratic novice (Julie Andrews) who was confused about her vocation.
I happen to know that song by heart, mainly because of its sentimental melody and the message it gives. But I would not dare sing it in public.

Oh, no! It's just not politically or socially correct.

But this young fellow sang it with such naturalness that you could easily fall for it. He sang it Rhythm and Blues style, with heart and soul, and not just cold and clever vocal acrobatics. Really cool!

So, at one point I could not help but erupt into singing myself, joining the young Guy Sebastian in an all-mine-to-give rendition of the song to the whole world, which at the time was the car I was driving. Yeah, funny, but I went high there.

Weeks before, I had similar experiences just listening to old Christmas carols done in R and B, and I could have enough of them!

Which brought me to thinking later on that one necessary skill we have to learn in life is how to blend the old and the new, how to dress up the eternally permanent things with the ever-changing trends of the times.

You know, just like what Christ said: "Every scribe trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."

How to make the old sound new and fresh is the challenge especially to those in education and evangelization. Indeed it's a challenge to all of us. It's no easy task, I tell you.

There has to be continuing renovation, reengineering, retouching, reinventing, etc. Adapting to people's minds and ways and even to their moods is any communicator's problem to solve.

The other day, I heard in a seminar that for those who give classes and lectures, the content of a given talk should constitute only 10 percent of their concern. Ninety percent of the worry should go to the presentation and the style.
At first I thought that such formulation was unfair, but later on I came to agree with it.

As a priest, I have been giving the same messages to people, and I'm sure everyone does the same. It's quite a service we give to others when we manage to present the same old things in new, refreshing ways.

I myself have been surviving, having to hear the same things over and over again. But I greatly appreciate the efforts of speakers who try to present the old things in a new, catchy way. It truly makes a big difference.

This has brought me to the realization that orthodoxy, respect for tradition, and all that jazz, need not be incompatible with the singing-and-dancing and showtime performances that go with the ever-changing fashions of the times.

This should be done as an authentic manifestation of charity to others, especially the young whose capacity to discern, understand and appreciate the essential things has to be supported by visual, auditory and external aids.

But how can we make sure that we are doing the right thing in combining the old and the new?
We can have our ideas, and I am sure that certain authorities, not least among them, those of the Catholic Church, have given guidelines that are truly helpful. But in the end it boils down to our vital union with God.

After all, St. Paul said: "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. The former things have passed away. Behold, they are made new!" (2 Cor 5,17)

And in the Book of Revelation: "He who sat upon the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.'" (21,5)

With this principle, we would be able to make use of any new gimmicks, gadgets, tricks, etc., purifying and Christianizing them in the process, to make things -- including the old eternal truths of the gospel -- really new!

Now, that would be worth climbing every mountain, wouldn't it?