Lent 1: Roles

“We prayed only for knowledge of his will and the strength to carry that out.”

Seeing my name on the cast list, beside the role I’d always wanted to play, was an unforgettable moment. I arrived an hour early to the first rehearsal and knew most of my lines before we were done blocking the show, but the experience was far from what I imagined. The director and I butted heads and struggled working together throughout the run, making the experience more of a chore than delight. On the surface, the show was a success, but it could have been so much more.

Looking back, I can see one of the reasons for the difficulties was that I spent more time trying to direct the show than act in it. I thought I knew better than the director and only begrudgingly did what he said.

No wonder I’ve always struggled to live a life of faith. Instead of being content as an actor in life, I’ve tried to climb into the director’s chair and tell every person, place, or thing how they should be. It’s exhausting, as anyone who’s tried can tell you. While the show may end up looking successful, it could be so much more.

Lent is a season to climb out of the director’s chair and back onto the stage. There’s a role specifically for us, but we waste precious time trying to be in charge of everything and everyone. Now is the time, Lent is the season, to return to our proper roles. Chances are the director knows what he’s doing. He doesn’t need our advice. He just needs us to do what he created us for.