Sometimes a realization is so sudden and so profound that to say, “Something occurred to me this morning,” is just not enough.
I had an epiphany this this morning.
Yesterday my brother Glenn and I were interviewed by the new hosts of GLC’s Light of the Southwest program, Amy Cooper and Dr. Rick Wadge, both of whom had yet to attend a show at the theater. It was a very comfortable and enjoyable visit, because both were genuinely intrigued by what we told them about Ragtown productions.
After Glenn performed a brief scene from our current production, LAZARUS, Rick posed the question that we get asked often, which always leaves me fumbling for words.
He basically asked, “How do you do it?”
That question followed some very kind words about the biblical insight that the scene illustrated, and amazement about how Glenn can memorize and bring the words to such vivid life in a characterization on stage.
The easy answer, and perhaps the expected answer is, “It’s God.” And it’s true. Apart from God we could do nothing. But that answer always sounds too simple. Just too cliche.
I woke up this morning thinking about the aspect of my job that I do poorly—promotion. How effective I am at that part of my job is easily measured—by everybody—simply by counting the empty seats on any given Friday night or Saturday afternoon.
When I sit down here at my desk to write a play, walk onto the stage to perform a concert, or stand in front of a 65′ wall with a brush in my hand with a mural background to paint I have absolute confidence that God is going to take care of things. And He always does, as only my Lord can. I go at it with everything I’ve got, and He gives it immeasurably more.
But, when I sit down to try and figure out how to get people to come to the theater to see and experience what the Lord has done—until today—I have to confess that I have not approached that task expecting God to be involved.
Maybe (and I think this is it) I’ve been thinking that promotion is beneath God. After all, He has a direct line. He can touch hearts with a desire to get up and come to Post to see the most beautifully produced, deeply touching, heart-changing play, and the best gospel music showcase we’ve ever put together. He will bring whoever needs to be there. (That’s what we tell ourselves when there’s been way more seats empty than filled for Lazarus.) But the grim reality is…we can’t pay the bills unless a lot of people come.
Here’s the epiphany: I in Christ am trustworthy. I in the flesh will let myself and everyone counting on me down, and miss the mark every time…guaranteed. But I in Christ can do whatever He has placed before me to do….and that includes promotion.
Maybe that doesn’t strike you as all that profound, but think about it. Your work, whatever it is that you or others are counting on you to do, you in Christ are able, and may absolutely be trusted to accomplish.
I’ll tell you, I feel like the Lord Jesus Himself just signed on as our new promotions man. I am pretty excited to see what He comes up with.
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