Dramatic Measurements of Success
Yesterday Mary Evelyn, her husband, his parents, and other volunteers began to transform the stage of our local drama center into a street scene in New York City in 1913. The Homeschool Dramatic Society spent last week practicing from 9:00 to noon each day at a church building. This morning we are scheduled to practice at the drama center. We have Monday-Wednesday rehearsals and dress rehearsal on Thursday morning. Opening night is on Thursday evening.
The stage, the dressing rooms, and the lighting booth are all familiar territory. In the lobby is a giant Christmas tree, shiny, bright, and surrounded by poinsettias. I’ve seen many beautiful trees, but this one stands out as particularly beautiful. I look forward to seeing it each day.
All of these places bring back memories from the simple to the profound, but one spot stands out as particularly special. It isn’t beautiful and may have no special meaning to anyone else but me. It’s just a place in an aisle near the front rows of seats. I associate that spot with the prayer for our daughter that I mentioned last Monday. Here’s an excerpt of what I said in that post:
As I watched what God was doing through Mary Evelyn’s plays year after year, I began to pray that God would send her a husband who would support what had become a ministry. He answered amazingly. To my knowledge, Mev’s husband Nate had never been involved in theater before their marriage, but now he puts his carpentry skills, his amazing creativity, and his belief in what Mev is doing together to create fabulous sets. His parents are very involved, too.
I think that the reason I associate my special spot with that prayer is that I once shared that heart’s desire with a close friend as we stood there talking one day during play practice. Today Mary Evelyn, a volunteer (I’ll call her Virginia), and I were standing on the stage. Nearby was my special spot. The volunteer told about a conversation she had at church yesterday morning with a lady I’ll call Tina. The conversation was prompted by an article published in the Sunday edition of the local newspaper about the current Homeschool Dramatic Society production. Tina told Virginia that Mary Evelyn was very talented and that she shouldn’t have gotten married, but gone to New York to pursue a career instead.
I was stunned. I looked at my special spot. With tears of joy, I told Virginia the story about how God answered my prayer for our daughter.
The conversation between Virginia and Tina makes me think about these questions. Why do parents homeschool? What is real success? What should the homeschooling parent be preparing their children to do with their education?
I am thankful for the fruit in our daughter’s life. I don’t exactly know how to put into words what it is she does. She writes plays that matter. She gives glory to God in every line and every song she writes. She gives children an opportunity to tell important messages through drama. She teaches those children how to portray that message. Her two little children are with her each day as she does these things. Her husband uses his talents to help make it happen as well. I am honored to assist her every year.
I do not believe that Mary Evelyn is wasting her talents by being married, being a mama, and working in homeschool drama. There are many ways to define success. Perhaps she could have pursued a “career on the stage.” Perhaps God would have used that career powerfully for His purposes. He’s doing that here, too.
Whatever you do, do your work heartily,
as for the Lord rather than for men,
knowing that from the Lord
you will receive the reward of the inheritance.
It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
Colossians 3:23-24
I love this post, Charlene! It is a reminder that God gives us ALL special talents, and He has uniquely designed our lives so that we can use those talents to bless others and glorify Him … whether it’s on the “big screen” or just in our own little corner of the world.