Youthlings with a Passion

"Not to us, but to your name alone,
Be all the glory, the glory forever.
For your faithfulness and steadfast love,
Receive the glory, the glory belongs to you."
[sovgrace.music]

I remember during my first year in high school, after my family had moved, many of my friends were involved in a youth drama production at our church. You could say that these plays were one of the highlights of the school year. They were full of fantastic youth using the gifts of theater and song to glorify God and advance His kingdom. Of course productions would not happen if there was not a highly trained director guiding us. Cathy Mays has not only been doing productions for many years now, but enjoys doing it. I don't know why should would want to spend her time with 50+ youthlings or even how she manages to deal with each and every aspect of putting together a show, but every year she steps up to the plate.

During my sophomore and senior years of high school I was blessed to participate in shows. Many of my friends were in the shows each year so I was excited to spend time with them in a non-school setting. Well, from October to March/April we sure did spend a LOT of time together. Sometimes maybe even too much time. We spent countless hours together singing, dancing, acting, laughing, etc. You could always look back on these times and remember the special memories you had together.

Last summer when I realized that I was not going back to George Mason I knew that I would have a lot of extra time and wanted to serve in some way. I was already serving on the youth admin team, and after emailing Mrs. Mays, I was now administratively involved in helping out with this year's play: "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat" - which just happend to be the same play that I was in my senior year of high school. Talk about having memories flooding back.

These high school students never cease to amaze me. Not only are they all super talented, but they are super humble. Their passion and love for Jesus is evident in the way that they desire to use their talent not to bring glory to themselves, but to bring glory to God and advance His gospel through acting.

But it is also no surprise that when you spend countless hours with each other close friendships begin to develop. We have become one big happy family. They have not only cared for each other as a cast, but have also cared for those individuals who are helping this production come to live. The guys even surprised all the girls one night by singing a heart felt Jason Mraz song during dinner and giving each girl in the cast a rose and all the female staff a small bouquet of flowers for Valentine's Day.

There have also been many times where I have been stressed with school, or not feeling well and the thought of going to a rehearsal is not the thing I want to do. But once you get there, everything changes. They constantly prayed for me when I was sick. They rejoiced with me and my family after my positive 3 month check up at Hopkins. They prayed for me when I was studying for and taking my Praxis exam. They celebrated with me when I passed the Praxis exam. They sang happy birthday to me 4 times during rehearsal. And even some girls brought me a cake for my birthday.

And of course, no production would be complete without the cast and crew having an uncanny ability to make you laugh multiple times at rehearsals.

team Jacob + sons > team Edward and team Jacob

These last few months I have realized that being administratively involved in the production is a lot different than actually being in the play. It involves thinking about and planning for each rehearsal. It involves teaching and re-teaching parts. It involves constantly telling high schoolers to be quiet and listen to instruction.

But it is also quiet rewarding. I mean, who wouldn't want to have play songs stuck in your head every single day? Or have nightmares about things going wrong during the productions? Or wake up in the middle of the night doing the hand motions to different songs?

In the last 5 months I think that I have listened to and watched run throughs at least 50 times [hence why I am singing these songs to myself as I am going to sleep]. The cast, and those helping, are very very familiar with the story of Joseph. But each and every time I am overwhelmed at the love and mercy of God. Despite our sin, despite our selfishness, God still graciously opens His arms for us to run back to Him.

We may go through trials and wonder if God even cares, or if God is even with us during our trials. Friends, even if we don't feel like God is with us, He is interceding for us. He loves us, and He has a plan for each of our lives, even if we don't understand what that plan is.

"I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted." [Job 42:2]

If you are in the Maryland/Virginia/DC area, please consider coming to see these passionate youth re-tell the amazing story of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. For more information please visit our church's website.