Lasting Impressions

I just got off the phone with a friend of mine whose daughter is making her theater debut tonight in our community theater production of Big. Her daughter is 10, which is the same age I was in my real theater debut, when I played Amaryllis in The Music Man. It’s been fun to watch her go, during the course of rehearsals, from, “Maybe I can do this” to “This is the best thing ever!” She reminds me of myself at her age, being bitten by the theater bug. And look where it’s lead me!

Something else interesting came out of our conversation this afternoon. This theater is one I used to work with, and the choreographer on this show had been in a cast with me about five  years ago. Apparently my friend mentioned me to her last night, and the choreographer’s response – despite the fact that she and I hadn’t spoken much - was, “Oh, yeah, I remember her – she was always so sweet to everyone.”

To me, that’s another form of drama ministry, or rather, another way to use drama as ministry. There was nothing specifically Christian about the play we were doing, but when you do all things for the glory of God, then anything can be ministry. I wouldn’t have been surprised to hear she didn’t remember me at all – she was a teenager at the time, and I was an adult, and our contact was pretty minimal. But instead I find that I left a lasting impression – thank goodness it was a positive one.

I frequently talk to our drama team members about their position as public ambassadors for Christ. This is true of all Christians, of course, but even more so for those who choose to be part of a public ministry. Once you’ve been on the platform, people will recognize you, whether or not you recognize them. It’s been very strange for me, getting a small taste of what it’s like to be famous. Many times people have waved to me in Wal-Mart, even greeted me by name, and I have no memory of ever having seen them before. Then I have to think about what they’ve just caught me doing – is it something I wouldn’t have done if I’d realized there were church people around? Shouldn’t my behavior be the same regardless of who’s around?

Drama ministry – as any ministry – is so much more than what’s done in the context of church. There is no time clock to punch for when we’re on or off duty. We can use every moment of our lives as an opportunity to minister. Think about what kind of impression you’re leaving for those around you. Assume they know you’re a follower of Jesus. Are you representing Him well?  

Update

Anybody who follows this regularly is probably wondering whether I dropped off the face of the earth. The answer is – kind of. I came down with a really bad cold on Saturday, and I can’t seem to pick myself up off the ground. It’s a rare occurrence for me to get sick – typically I feel like I’m starting to get sick, and that’s as bad as it gets. So I don’t really know how to deal with it when I’m knocked flat.

The worst part for me has been how scattered my mind is. I’ve had trouble stringing words together to form coherent sentences, and that feels like being muzzled. Between the trip and the illness, I haven’t touched the Safe Haven script in over a week, and it’s reaching the “critical that it gets done” time. So any coherent thought I can manage must go toward that.

Hopefully I’ll be back here with some deep thoughts in the next couple of days. Or at least coherent thoughts.

Happy Thanksgiving

I have pecan pies baking in the oven, and boy do they smell good. We’re taking off tomorrow for our traditional Thanksgiving with some friends in Arkansas. We switch off every year whose house we meet at – this is supposedly my year not to have to cook, but considering the amount of baking I’m doing today, I’d say “not cooking” is a relative term.

I thought I’d take this chance before I leave for several days to list some things I’m thankful for. Original, I know. To make it interesting (and to keep it on topic) I worked it into an acrostic of Acts of Faith.

A – Actors, specifically the members of Acts of Faith. I appreciate all of you so much. You’ve blessed my life.

C – Christ. I’m thankful that He lived, that He died, and that He rose again. And I’m thankful that He chose me.

T – Tech people. I know next to nothing about sound systems or light boards, and I’m so thankful to have people who do know, and who are willing to share their talents.

S – Stories. I’m thankful that God created us with a love of story and an ability to learn from stories. I’m thankful for the way stories speak to human hearts.

O – Offerings. I find it so amazing that God allows us to give offerings to Him, particularly through worship, and that He accepts them. He takes our human efforts and turns them into something magnificent for His glory.

F – Family, especially my wonderful husband and amazing son, who love me so well. I would not make it without you guys.

F – Friends, who really are family as well. My brothers and sisters in Christ have loved me through some difficult times, and I am so thankful.

A – Attitude. I’m thankful that no matter what our circumstances, we can choose what our attitude will be in response.

I – Individualized love. I’m so glad that God loves me differently than He loves John or Jane. When He created me He put something in me that is unique, and He gets something from my love that He can’t get from anyone else. My relationship with Jesus is special in the very best sense of the word – He doesn’t have the same relationship with anyone else on earth!

T – Temperature changes. I’m thankful that we can enjoy all different kinds of weather, that this is yet another way God shows His creativity. I love the fall!

H – Health. I’m thankful to be healthy both physically and spiritually.

What a lot to be thankful for – and there’s so much more that didn’t fit in the acrostic.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Dancing With Jesus

Yesterday in our worship service, we had a soloist sing “I Can Only Imagine”. And while I was listening to him (and trying to fade into the woodwork, because I was seated right behind him on the platform while he sang, and thus projected larger-than-life on the screens along with him) something jumped out at me in that song that never had before. It was this line – “Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you, Jesus, or in awe of you be still?” The conclusion is that we can only imagine, but it hit me yesterday that in some small way, I don’t have to imagine, because Jesus has already told me.

Two years ago I was in a really difficult place, and I couldn’t see where God was leading me or why He would take me through such hard times. One day during a time of intense prayer, I suddenly got an image in my head, and I know that God sent it to me in answer to the questions I was asking Him. I saw myself dancing with Jesus – we were in a huge ballroom, and we were like Fred and Ginger, making it look effortless, gliding and spinning across the floor. I actually saw Jesus in a tuxedo, and myself in a ball gown. And He told me, Just let Me lead, and you follow, and we can keep dancing like this forever.

I am always amazed, not just that God speaks to us, but that He does it in a way unique to each person. I love to dance. I’ve done some choreography for our church productions, and I caused a minor stir by having Jesus dance in our Passion play. So He knew that image would speak to me, that I would understand Him that way. He knew I would feel His love, not only in that He spoke to me, but that He understood my heart.

He has spoken to me many times since then, and I admit, I had kind of forgotten about that image. But He brought it to the front of my mind yesterday, and the memory left me somewhere between laughter and tears of gratitude (I probably didn’t look so non-descript on the big screen at that moment). “Will I dance for you, Jesus, or in awe of you be still?” I’m sure there will be times of awe and stillness, but He reminded me that He and I have a date to dance together in heaven, and that He’s looking forward to it as much as I am.

   

Encouraging Rejections

It doesn’t seem like the words encouraging and rejection ought to come together to make one phrase. I received one of these little oxymorons in yesterday’s mail. I suppose it’s better than a form rejection. Maybe.

I had sent Blackwell Inn to Lillenas, one of the premier publishers for Christian drama. I wasn’t sure my stuff was up to their standards, but I decided to try there first. And here’s what I got back. “I really liked this – excellent! – but we don’t have a need for it right now.” So, yeah – excellent is nice to hear in response to my work, especially from a respected publisher. But it leaves me wondering, if excellent isn’t enough to get me in the door, where do I go from here?

Yes, I know, it was a matter of timing. But it’s really frustrating.

I guess this is where faith comes in – again. Everything in life comes back to faith, and trusting that God has it all under control. It’s so easy to look at what we want and assume that’s what’s best for us. So often He has different plans, something we never could have imagined.

I sent Blackwell Inn out again already to the next publisher on my list. We’ll see what happens.