When Terry Weber asked me to write a blog entry for the WordPlayers’ website, I said, “Sure!” Which is my typical response to just about anything asked of me by The WordPlayers. My involvement with this ministry over the years has meant a lot to me, so I’m always eager to help. Of course, now here I sit with my entry due, and I have no idea what I want to say.
I’ve had some great opportunities with The WordPlayers. I’ve been able to try my hand at directing, stage managing, designing lights, set, sound, even make-up. But my main joy is acting.
If you’ve ever seen “Chariots of Fire” there’s a great scene where Eric Liddell is trying to explain to his sister why he wants to compete in the 1924 Olympics. She sees it as a distraction from his calling as a missionary. His response is something like this (if my memory is accurate):
“God made me for China. I know that. But he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure.”
That’s how I feel about acting. It’s what God made me for. And when I act, I feel His pleasure. In fact, I can’t really even think about this scene without tearing up a little, it rings that true for me.
I don’t expect anyone who isn’t an actor to understand this. In fact, I don’t expect very many actors to understand, either. But my prayer for you, whoever you are reading this, is that you will find that thing that God made you for. That whenever you do that thing, whatever it is, you will feel His pleasure. And when you find it, you will never stop. I know that I will be an actor for the rest of my life.