Tag Archives: Part

Chapter-a-Day

An Epic Production; A Bit Part

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2012 12 USP Joseph Backstage Grovel LR

All the trees of the forest will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.
Ezekiel 17:24 (NIV)

Ezekiel’s prophetic parable in today’s chapter is specifically related to the political circumstances of his day. Babylon laid siege to Jerusalem and carried off her royals, nobles and promising young talent back to Babylon. A royal family member, named Zedekiah, was set on the throne as a political puppet of the Babylonian king. But Zed had his own ideas and conspired with the Egyptians to deliver Jerusalem from Babylonian control. Today’s chapter is Ezekiel’s prophetic prediction of Zed’s failure and downfall.

Two things struck me this morning as I read the chapter this morning and considered the regional intrigue of Ezekiel’s day.

First, I am mindful of the Israeli Prime Minister’s controversial address to the U.S. Congress earlier this week and the reality that the political intrigue of that region of the world continues 2500 years later. The Israel of today has its capital in Jerusalem, the same capital city destroyed by the Babylonians in Ezekiel’s day. The Egyptians to whom Zedekiah pled for help remain a nation to this day. The ancient Babylonians are today’s Iraq. The Assyrian empire of Ezekiel’s day is today’s Iran. The names are slightly changed, but the peoples and the players are the same as are the regional power struggles and conflict. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Second, I was struck by God’s word through Ezekiel that there is a divine plan being worked out in all of this. God can bring down the powerful from their lofty heights and raise the lowly to positions of prominence. All the world’s a stage and there is a Great Story being played out amidst the proscenium of time. We are part of the same production.

All of this makes me and my silly little troubles feel small and insignificant. And yet, Jesus reminded us that there are no small parts. I may be a bit player and an extra in the chorus of this epic production, but the costume department considers me important enough that  every hair on my head is numbered and the Producer/Director knows my name. I have a part to play, as small as it may be and as insignificant as it may seem. It starts with loving my neighbors as I love myself, and acting accordingly.

Theatre Journal, Wayfarer's Journal

Speaking of Playing My Part….

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Playing Pharaoh in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Playing Pharaoh in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

It was great to have my folks and Wendy’s family at Sunday afternoon’s performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. When mom, who didn’t know the show, heard that I was playing Pharaoh I think she was thinking more Yul Brenner than Elvis. She was in for a little bit of a shock 🙂 .

There are three performances left if anyone is interested. Tickets can be purchased here.

Chapter-a-Day

Still Playing My Part, to the Best of My Ability

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tom as warbucks
Playing Warbucks

Chapter-a-Day Psalm 71

Now that I am old and gray,
do not abandon me, O God.
Let me proclaim your power to this new generation,
your mighty miracles to all who come after me.
Psalm 71:18 (NLT)

One of the things I’ve learned from the stage is knowing your part and your place. I’ve played parts under many different directors. Some of them have been brilliant and knew far more than I will ever know. Others have been inexperienced and clearly struggled with what they were doing. In either case, my job is still the same: to play my part to the best of my ability.

I was a young man in my twenties when I was working in pastoral ministry. I was subjected to regular interrogations about my youth and inexperience. I felt under constant scrutiny. Times change. I’m a little further down life’s road and I’ve finally got a little life experience and wisdom behind me. It’s funny, however. Now I tend to feel old and irrelevant to the generations who follow after me. From young and suspect to old and irrelevant, the tipping point came and went without me noticing.

Perhaps that is the way of it. You can’t control such things. Psalm 71 is a lament from David’s elder years. I can’t imagine what he experienced as he got older. He was the boy hero of Israel who slew Goliath and then led countless military exploits for both Israel and Judah. He made his name on youth, strength, and the physical deeds of a warrior. He must have grieved getting older and coming to the realization that the things which made him famous were only a distant memory.

I can’t control who is directing  a show. I can’t control time. I can’t control the doubts or perceptions of others. There will always be critics. The only thing I control is the part I play. I control what I do and say and write each day. As the Bard said, “All the world’s a stage” and as I play out my part I have an audience of one. In old age I will recite the same soliloquy and proclaim the same Message I communicated when I was young. I will play my part to the best of my ability.  In this I have faith that I’m playing for the most creative and brilliant Director that has ever been and will ever  be. What He chooses to do with me on this grand stage is totally His call. He has a grand vision for this production called life which is beyond my capacity to comprehend. My job is simply to play the part I’ve been given to the best of my ability.

Places.

 

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Wayfarer's Journal

“Oh, for the Love of – !”

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I’ve been getting a lot of comments, shocked looks and awkward questions about my hair lately. For the past 25 years or so I’ve worn your basic clean cut, short cropped look. People get used to seeing you a certain way. I think its especially true of guys who tend to find the look that works (e.g. the woman likes it), takes the least amount of maintenance, and then sticks with it.

A year and a half ago I stunned people by shaving my head for the part of Daddy Warbucks. Clients started asking if I was sick, and people marveled that I was willing to do it. I have to admit that the natural ham in me had a blast with it. I even got a lot of compliments on the shape of my head, thank you very much. At least I know that if I must sport the bald look someday, I can effectively pull it off.

Mug shot of John Dillinger
Mug shot of John Dillinger (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So, later this month I’m playing a 30’s era gangster (Lawrence “Guts” Regan) in Ayn Rand’s “Night of January 16th.” I’ve been growing my hair out and giving it some color so that I can pull off a John Dillinger style cut for the show. In order to attempt it, I first have to get it longer – a lot longer. So, I’m getting a lot of strange looks and laughs from family and friends who’ve never seen me try to pull off the long hair thing. I’m using “product” I did not know existed, and I’ve become very attached to hats. I was even told last night that with my generally out of control locks I look like my son-in-law, Clayton (who ironically just cropped his hair short a week ago like I normally wear it).

I’ve been working on an article for our local paper and was reminded the other night about the root of the word “amateur” which basically means one who does something for the love or pleasure of doing it. That’s the funny thing about doing community theatre. You’re a rank amateur. There’s no money in it. There’s no fame. There’s no glory. You do it for the love of it. You do it for kicks and grins and giggles. You do it because you have fun doing it and it fills your Life tank.

My mother is, I’m sure, hoping that “Hair” doesn’t make it on the schedule next year.

Hair (musical)
Hair (musical) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)