Stage Fright

So, I'm taking a Monologue class. Just started on this past Tuesday and culminates next Tuesday, kind of an "intensive" if you will. We started the workshop by sharing why each of us was there, what kind of acting we had previously done, what kind of acting we might like to do. After we were done with our introductions, our teacher said "Do you know what the number one fear is?" Stage Fright. Even before death. That means...people are more scared to stand up in front of a crowd and say something than to DIE.

Wow.

You'd think that in a country of free speech, more people might be inclined to share. Now of course, there are plenty who do share and overshare and scream and berate; I'm not talking about them. They might want to share a little less. I'm talking about those of us who want to share, who almost boil inside with something to give, whether it be words, or deeds, or art.

But then something creeps us to keep us from doing it.

I've known this little creepy "friend" for some time now, and I've had to keep my eye very closely on him. He tries to sneak in when the timing's right or when I'm a little low on my luck. And then he sometimes disguises himself by switching identities. Then he insists I need to do something too quickly, too bluntly, and with too much barf attached to it. Yes, I said barf.

But I'm working on it. Working on my balance. And working on getting rid of my so-called "friend".

Anyway, back that stage fright thing.

I pondered it a lot last night. What's holding us back? Why are so many good people being struggling right now? And then I got the answer. "They're stuck in the middle. They need to say something." So, then my next question was "What do I need to say? What do they need to say?" The answer was yet again, simple. "Whatever you WANT to say." Hmmmm... What's that message that's brewing in your life right now? Is it mad, sad, happy, difficult, exhilarating, hopeful? Say it. Dance it. Paint it. Write it. Run it. Sing it. Cook it. Snap a picture of it. Sculpt it. Let it out. Tell that old friend "Hasta La Viesta, baby" by saying something...something from inside you. Something from your guts.

After all that's how the Israelites took care of Jericho. They walked around that thing 7 times and then shouted. Shouted! And those walls, those obstacles just came a tumblin' down.

If you're the cartoon type, this is a snippet of Ella's favorite video of the last 3 months. She will only watch this, nothing else. What a little spiritual barometer she is. :) Enjoy...

and then say something! :)

Josh and the Big Wall

Romans 8:18-21

^18-21That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.

^22-25All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

(corresponding song: Stuck in the Middle With You by Steelers Wheel)