A choice between pipe dreams and real life.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 (TUESDAY) – I always felt like I could have become an actor. Even as an adult I sometimes was “onstage.”
My first acting role came in the First Grade at Halloween. I was a big black cat, walking on all fours and meowing. Can’t remember the details, but everyone had to be something, and we paraded around the gymnasium-like room – I think it must have been what they call a “cafetorium.” I remember attending a program in that room, by a magician who jerked the tablecloth out from under the china, and pulled rabbits from a hat. I was spellbound.
The next big appearance was in the fourth grade at the Maypole celebration. I was a cowboy, I guess, wearing blue jeans and partnered with a girl in a gingham dress. We danced around the maypole to the tune of “Put your little foot, put your little foot, put your little foot right here..” The next year I was in a sailor suit, choreographed with a little routine around the maypole, sort of skipping and alternating left and right arms at my waist and back, to the music, “Sailing, sailing over the bounding main..”
I had a great role in the Seventh Grade. I was Sam Houston. I remember being stretched out under a tree, with a wounded leg, having a conversation with General Santa Ana, a little boy in the class. I milked the part out of every ounce of pathos and grandiose speech I could. The kids said I was great, so I’m sure I was (giggle). View image
When I was a senior in high school, I was Ebeneezer Scrooge in a church play. View imageThe drama cannot be presented without good old Scrooge being the star. So I shined out, strutting my stuff and keeping an eye out for the Hollywood talent scout that was going to appear at the door at any moment. He didn’t show.
Later at high school, we put on a play for citywide competition with the other Houston high schools. The contest took place at Lamar High School. Lamar’s thespians won it with “Our Town.” Our drama teacher took a chance with a play about surreal events that took place within the mind of a young lady. That fact was announced at the very beginning, as the drama was introduced. If you missed those words, you were out of luck in understanding the play. I guess everyone missed them. But I have to say we were really good. Unfortunately none of us was a judge.
I did, however, bring home a medal that year for being the “Best Actor” in our high school, San Jacinto High School. But I never did pack up my medal and head for Hollywood. It came down to a choice between glitter and glamor and big bucks on the one hand, and preaching the gospel on the other. Or, I should say, it was a choice between pipe dreams and fantasy on the one hand and living a real life, hands on, serving the Lord.
Oh, I took one more drama course at college. It was an elective, and I had to take something. By that time, I was an ordained minister, pastoring a church. I like to think the drama courses helped me in my preaching. But who knows?
I feel a soliloquy coming on: “To be or not to be…” If it’s all the same with you, I choose “to be,” as long as possible. “Not to be” would sort of spoil the day, it seems to me. I shouldn’t have written this blog, because now you will wonder, when you think back over all our experiences in the church, “was he acting?” Ronald Reagan never told; neither will I.
Did I mention I’m always “onstage?” View image