The Applause

I’m the first person up this morning. This is no different than any other morning. I think my internal alarm clock is forever defaulted to the time I was supposed to get up to go to daycare as a kid. (And, yes, I am exhausted. Last night, my students and I got the opportunity to attend the 2nd Annual Stanley Awards. This an awards ceremony very similar to the Toney’s but on a local level. Students and community members have the opportunity to receive recognition for their performances and hard work in the theater arts. Our show, The Sound If Music, received 11 nominations.

We make a big deal out of this night, because it is a big deal! We go out and eat and take pictures down the red carpet.

Its an opportunity to be recognized by community fans that you never knew you had, and to celebrate with the fans that you knew you did.

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For me, it’s an emotional roller coaster the whole night. I pour my entire being into these shows. To be nominated for categories such as “Best overall musical”, and “Best director for a musical”, and “Best music production in a show” is an overwhelming boost that I need to keep going. I don’t choose to do these shows just to fill a void for myself, but to keep the arts alive for the future-in my students.

Ben came with me this year. Everything is always better when my best friend goes with. He always knows what to say, when to say it, and how to say it. He made an excellent point last night. I was discouraged by our 1 out of 11 victory awards from our nominations, and he said, “I didn’t think you did it for the applause.” So many performers get bit by the musical and acting bug for the applause, the final bow, the after show huddles of, “Congratulations.” These things are the sprinkles, but they’re far from the cake or icing.

Maybe it’s not their fault. Maybe the world is lacking encouragement all the way around. Ben preached a sermon one time, and when he got done, no one talked to him about his job “well done.” He was quiet in the car ride home, and I had no clue why. He did a fabulous job, but I couldn’t see why he wasn’t beaming at his success to have turned people to fixate their eyes on Truth. After the sermon, the congregation clumped together to talk to one another about the excellent job he did and how the lesson touched them. No one told him-just each other. Our brothers and sisters need encouragement to get through this life of persecutions and disappointments. If we don’t encourage one another, sin will becoming our enticing source of happiness.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says to, “Encourage one another and build each other up.”

Be the applause for someone! Be the nomination for someone! We automatically assume that people want to be around someone who talks negatively about other people just for the conversation starter. But, how much more desperate are we to be surrounded by someone who is going to lift us up and make us feel like that we are the only soul under the spotlight. It’s contagious!

Thanks, Stanley Board for the nominations, and the incredible night last night. You’ve lit the fire for this next show. And it’s gonna be a doozie: practically perfect in every way.