Today, as we continue to Prepare 90 Days for Easter (P90E), we read John 18 and Galatians 6.9-10.
A couple of months ago I was leaving the School District office when I spoke to the director of the Houston Community Theater. She was busy preparing prep packets for the new cast of this year's presentation, The Sound of Music. After a delightful greeting she asked me if I sang. I said, ' a little.' She then said I was just the person that she was looking for. She had a part in this year's play that included a song and a couple of lines. (At least, that was the message I walked away with.) I took the song home, asked my wife to play it for me, sang it a couple of times, and accepted the part. The next day the script, the 120 page script, was delivered and my character's name was on a BUUUNNNNCCCHHH of the pages. My heart started palpitating, cold sweats poured out, walking the floor took over, and something was all busting loose inside me. I knew that I had got the role because the other dudes did not want it, but now I knew why.
I must admit that part of the problem is that I had never sat down and watched in its entirety, The Sound of Music. It is a family favorite, but when it is watched, we are usually on a long trip and kids are watching it with headphones on while I barrel down the road in that gap between the speed limit and the speed that they actually pull you over for. I thought and actually tried to tell my wife on day 1 that Captain Von Trapp, my new leading actor role, was only in a small part of the movie. I said, "He goes off to the war right after the opening scene." Although the play and the movie take place during a war era, it is not a war movie. He leaves for a short time...only! I found that out when I actually watched the movie...after I volunteered for the part.
We immediately began practicing at least two hours for two days a week. That crescendoed into this week, which was made up of about 20 hours of practice and dress rehearsel time. Tonight we perform. It is my debut appearance in the community theater or in any theater and, yes, it is quite different than preaching. Speaking in front of people is about the only similiarity. It has been one of the most enjoyable, humbling, audacious tasks that I have ever taken on, but I sure am glad I did...at least so far: I just hope this homeboy remembers his lines.
I bring that up for two reasons. I have been told that The Sound of Music is the biggest performance that the theater has taken on. It is a large cast, many elaborate set changes, a ton of music, and an interesting cast of characters. This performance was one that the director had been warned about, challenged about, and often requested for. Today is the day. If you haven't made plans to be there, you should. Janet Coker is a wonderful director, coordinator, organizer, and manager of this presentation and its diverse cast of characters. Larry Newell has taken a blank musical canvas and painted quite a picture with the colors that he was handed. Molly May plays Maria, the lead role, and she is an amazing talent. She is worth your time and your dime. The nun choir is like NUN other. You should not miss them.
The second reason I bring it up is because I thought of all of that when I read Galatians 6.9 this morning: And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. After the hours of prep, I and my fellow cast members are tired. It has been a long week and a lot of hard work, but a good thing is worth a lot of hard work. Tonight we reap...as long as homeboy remembers his lines. The storm woke my dog up at 4:30 AM and she woke me up. The storm in my gut and my frazzled mind kept me up. Tonight we reap. However, that is a drop in the bucket compared to what hard work for the Lord does. The reaping for the work of God is eternal.
Serve The Lord today. It may be more work at times that you thought or that you intended but it will be worth it. It will be music to your heart.
Hope to see you tonight!
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