If life ever was normal.
This last Monday, we performed The 13 Clocks for the third and last time. In Hastings for Crossroads Mission (which is a Christian organization somewhere between the Salvation Army and Boystown).
We’ve been through a lot with this play. In January, I read the book which turned into the script. In February, I sat there staring at the impossibly long list of things I needed to be able to turn a book into a script. In March, I talked sixteen formerly happy people into volunteering as on-stage guinea pigs. April and May were practices. Or attempts at practices. Work, family, sickness, chores, sports, babies, and the army take a very large chunk out of rehearsal time. The first day of June was our first performance. It was like having a baby. It came a day early. We weren’t due till the second. But that got changed three days before. Welcome to Royal Family Kids Camp. Please sit in your seats for half an hour, ADD children, then we’ll give you cookies and tell you in the second half whether the prince lives or not. They loved it. We were pretty thrilled too.
The rest of that month was spent losing three more cast members (we’d already lost two in May). In July, we gritted our teeth and performed again. In Central City this time. For anyone who wished to come.
And two days ago was our grand finale. In Hastings. For an audience of former drug addicts, homeless people, and families who have been through abuse.
Why did we bother? If you’ve read James Thurber, you probably have a good idea of part of the answer. But only part. It was much more than the script. After each performance, we took the opportunity to share the Gospel with the audience. If our God is a God who “devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from Him,” then I don’t know why we’re not busy devising ways too. After all, we plot and scheme to make money, to spend more time with family, to be better at sports, to have more free time. Why not plot and scheme for ways to share the Gospel? Our God is a creative God. He is as capable of being glorified through a mission’s trip or a theology degree or a new church building as He is through thirteen clocks.
Of course, it doesn’t have to be dramatic. I have a slight tendency towards creativity (it’s nothing compared to what God does), and so it was very full of drama in my case. But sharing the Gospel is fully worth plotting and scheming for. Even without guinea pigs and cookies.
That’s what I learned this summer.
Here's some pictures:
The brilliant cast and their unflustered, completely organized director.
I don't know what it is, but it's the only one there ever was.
I have tales to disturb a dragon's sleep!
A noble prince. A noble lady. When they are wed, a million people will be glad!
In the tavern. (Don't worry; the cups were empty.)
(More pics on my facebook page if you're interested. :-))
