"We love you,Conrad, oh yes we do, we love you , Conrad, and we'll be true..." I wonder just how long it will take to get that song out of my mind, soul, and spirit?I must admit, I am feeling my age!!! The past five weeks have completely wiped me out! Our community theatre just finished the production of "Bye Bye Birdie"--start to finish in FIVE weeks. WOW! That was quite and undertaking for us all! The teens and adults all just jumped in as a team and it all came together beautifully. Oh..we all had our moments but everything was ironed out by the time the curtain was drawn on the first performance. The adults were great! I reconnected with old friends, and was blessed at the new friends that I made!I absolutely fell head over heels in love with all of the teens that were in the play! I am so impressed with the talent that roams through the halls in the Houston Middle and High School!Our director, Janet Coker, is the real trooper though!! She had to be exhausted at all the drama that went on in the process leading up to this event , but she handled it like a pro with pure grace and dignity, and we were all stronger as a whole for it. Her encouragement also went a long way!! Not to boost our ego but to walk with us, listen to us, and help us figure out how we could work together to make 'our' play better. I personally was way out of my comfort zone. Oh, the songs didn't bother me, or the lines, and it didn't even bother me that I had to somehow pull off being Spanish.(I look sooo NOT Spanish...Irish maybe...Spainish...ahh-not a chance) No, I had to dress in a sexy dress , sing with a Spanish accent , and DANCE.....in a BAR! I know , it's acting...but you can't fake sexy....or dancing!!! Oh, in high school, I was always placed in the back line during cheerleader dances. I have never been a dancer and have been perfectly ok with that..but now...I had to in front of my friends and family. I could feel the entire cast cheering me on as I began the"Spanish Rose" number. Friday, I pulled it off without a hitch!!In my heart, I could feel my fellow cast members with me. I had made a deal with Nolen Hood, who played Conrad Birdie and was not comfortable with his Elvis moves any more than I was my Latino moves. I told him if I could go out in that little black dress and dance and sing(IN A BAR) that he could shake his leg and move his hips! AND HE DID!! Todd , who was my love interest Albert Peterson, and I messed up one song every single time in rehearsal. We actually nailed it at the performance and as soon as the curtain closed....we were all doing major high fives and hugging and doing the happy dance until the curtain re-opened. From notes in songs our friends mastered(like my new friend that stole my heart..Agnes Williams'Mae Peterson' did)to dances,lines, props,etc....you get the picture... We had bonded as a group and were in this together and needed each other. Five weeks and we were so protective of one another and wanted to help, support, and cheer one another on. As I said, we had our moments...but in the end....we were a team. How ironic that during these five weeks, there were so many other things in so many of our lives that were also changing. God has always had me where He wanted me at just the right time because had I not been busy with this play, I fear I would have gotten too involved in some matters I really didn't need to be involved in. In saying that, I also noticed how like a community we were and the lessons we could learn from our 'Birdie Time'. Things like supporting one another and truly being happy for anothers well being. Encouraging one anothers strengths and being mindful of their weaknesses. As I said, the talent the teens possess is extraordinary but Molly May, who is a sophomore at Houston High School is phenomenal!!! She has a rare talent that is truly a gift from God. When she sings, it is as if everyone just stops whatever they may be doing or thinking just to listen. As talented as this young lady is, she could not do the entire play alone. She needed us as well as we needed her and together....we were able to complete the play. We each knew that some may have more parts than another, but each person was needed in order to be complete. Also, as it is often with groups, feelings get hurt. Sometimes intentional, sometimes not, and at times just because people were pushed to far. That is when Janet would ride in on her white horse for an intervention. As a good leader will do, many times, no one even realized she was intervening for them.(to keep peace) As I have stepped back from the play back into reality...I realize how similar life is to being at our play practices and how many lessons we could take away from it.We have a script to learn---PERIOD! We are not to re-write it, just learn it and do what it says. I don't have enough lifetime to explain Dr. Newall to you. He was music director and most of the fires that were put out...he started...But he was a stickler for staying true to the script and musical score.(Even if it meant I danced with a briefcase...oh, yeah..I had to go there) Saying this, by sticking to the script, there was no question of what to do. At times, especially when many teens are in the mix, not to mention many different adult personalities, troubles arise. The number one problem are people hurting each other. I have often quoted my girl, Beth Moore, "Hurt people, hurt people". When this would happen, our fearless leader would go to that person- talk things-out and once again- we would go forward. It helped that our dear Mr. Macafee was played by Brother Randy Rhineheart who is one of the most godly preachers I have ever known. He was always being a man after God's own heart and was quick to encourage, pray, or be His servant in any way he could. He was a pure blessing to us all! I had a mini-breakdown a time or two but I knew I had made a commitment and had to keep going. I just have to parallel this to our Christian walk. How many ways does God have to prove that His 'Script' (HIS WORD) is not to be tampered with or altered. We are not to pick and choose which parts we want to obey or even hear for that matter.[and woe to the ones who use it as a form of manipulation]And when we have ANY problem with one another- scripture clearly teaches us to go to one another...Right then...don't even let sun go down on anger. Just like the young people in the play getting upset because so-in-so is upset because so-in-so said--- oh my word---say what you will about them but adults are exactly the same way. Scripture says come as little children but I know this is NOT what it meant. How happy Satan is when he sees a group of believers so busy bickering and back biting that none are about God's business. I for one am exhausted!!!I don't know why people wonder why some never want come to church...gee, they may see and hear the behavior Christians have in everyday life. People can do every mission known to man and men may approve but it's all about the heart. That's what God sees.When will we realize that we need one another. We were never meant to BE the play...but A PART of it. That's the body of Christ is it not? I know I have to always check my motives and pray for a clean heart(PS.51) because scripture clearly shows me without God's mercy and grace...I am worthless.(a filthy rag)I know that I make mistakes every single day of my life but one thing I have no problem with is communication. I worked at a church for 7 years and believe me it was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do IN MY LIFE! I was talked about , behind my back, for years. Although I knew who it was and usually what was said...I knew God had led me to do or not to do the very things that were talked about.(and I am not saying the things I heard through the grapevine weren't ligament concerns) What I wouldn't have given for those to come to ME and share concerns and talk it out instead of discussing it with everyone else. I now realize that some must prefer strife. Some like to be in the middle of a drama more than anything else I do believe.My heart for one has been broken over and over and over by the church,by people, and just by life in general.We ALL have. But God is a healer..Jehovah Rapha--"God Who Heals" AMEN!!! I praise God He has grown me up knowing the local church is not "the" church and our churches are all flawed.(ALL OF THEM)However, our churches sure are a reflection to our community, to the unsaved and for those who don't have a church home, to the hurting, and is really a family in many ways.(well, it has been to me anyway) In my family..we talk everything out. Hank and I celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary March 2 and we learned the hardest way possible over the years just how important it is to be honest NO MATTER WHAT...talk EVERYTHING out...and most of all...LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY. Funny but I seem to assume I should apply that to all situations since that is what God's word says. Many times in my home , working with the youth at church,and most recently play practice, I witnessed what happens when a teen is confronted about something they have said,done, or anything they may be in question about...they get into defensive mode and blame everyone else. Sounds familiar doesn't it?I know that Satan is the author of confusion and only God's pure light can shine through the darkness.What do roaches do when a light is turned on in their darkness? SCRAM! Sin always wants to scram too. Guilty people seldom want to sit and talk but as Christians, I feel we shouldn't go for the purpose of condemning BUT for the purpose of mending. Things like anger and resentment tucked inside someone and kept quiet just grows like fungus in the dark.(spreads and attacks your body like cancer) And gossip is often totally a warped version of some truth.I think we all need to be about spreading the gospel rather than spreading gossip. Satan divides...God multiplies..which are you doing? Yes, as busy as I was....life was much easier going ninety to nothing during play practices and now that it's over...I have a heavy burden for my church family and that is literally breaking my heart. I don't know what you may be going through at this time but whatever it is-take Jesus by the hand and just get to the heart of the matter. In Him, there is always ,ALWAYS peace!(we have so much junk in the way we often forfeit true peace though)This is reality...THIS IS NOT PLAY PRACTICE---THIS IS LIFE!! However, I made a commitment long ago...about 24 years ago to be exact...to Jesus. To love Him, honor Him, follow and hide his Word in my heart that I may not sin against Him. Now, I can't fix all the problems around me...but I can be open, honest, and obedient to the things He places before me. I can be the best I can be which apart from Jesus , is pretty much, well actually, is absolutely nothing.All I can give Him is me. May my new song be.."I love you, Jesus, oh yes I do, I love you, Jesus, and I'll be true..." Now that is one song I never ever want to get out of my mind, soul, or spirit.
That's all I have the energy for right now,
LO
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