Reflections on The God Committee
Father Dunbar has continually evolved in my mind since the first time I read the play. Like most performers, I mentally catalogued much of my character and thought I knew who he was and where he was going. Then as rehearsals began, Father Dunbar began to vacillate between his “attorney” role, and the drama he encounters through personality, character and need, proving once again, that things are not always what they appear to be.
– Jack Wicker (actor in the play)
I have a greater appreciation for people who have to make extremely important decisions. I think such responsibility would weigh heavy on me.
– Jeni Lamm (actor in the play)
The play (and my lovely and talented wife, Jeni) made me think about DECISIONS. And that made me think about what the Bible might say about the decision-making process. Interestingly, the ancient Israelites trusted that God would lead them to the proper decision by consulting the Urim and Thummim, which many scholars believe indicate a practice of casting lots which God would direct. Exodus 28:30 says, “put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.” (NIV). The emphasis is mine. Our play regards a decision about a physical heart. For the ancient Israelites, God’s means of making decisions were to be worn over the heart, not in a headpiece over the brain. For God’s people today, does this indicate we should make decisions more with our hearts and less with our heads? Spirit over intellect?
– Terry Weber (Artistic Director of The WordPlayers)
The God Committee helped me understand the complexities of deciding what it means to be “worthy of being saved” and how ill-equipped we are as imperfect human beings to make such decisions. Thank heaven (literally) that the decision God makes about saving US flows from His perfect love and abundant grace.
I also came to see that the high-stakes nature of the organ-donor decision is driven in large part by scarcity. One heart; four recipients. That problem can be eased by increasing the supply of donor organs. BECOME AN ORGAN DONOR TODAY!
– Joe Jaynes (actor in the play)