Center Stage

It’s oxymoronic to be an introvert who also wants to be seen. At least that’s how I see it sometimes. Mostly because I’m not the loud, confident, and all in your face person that I assume this would create. There’s one exception to this rule of mine. Whenever I am on stage or asked to do something in front of people, I feel at home and have never shied away from it. I’ll have to take you back into a time machine for this.

Back when I was in 2nd grade, one of the homeroom teachers for our grade, Ms. Laura Smith at the time now Mrs. Young, was in charge of our school play. I somehow managed to get the lead role and to this day have no idea how. I don’t like practicing, or I guess rehearsing is the more accurate term for us actors.

I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter given who my at-home directors were. Sitting on one side of the couch was Beverly Scorcese and on the other Sareta Duvernay. I was made to enter and exit so many times if my line delivery was off. If I didn’t have the right energy, I was told to go out and start from the top. I wanted to quit so much that it was funny. The rehearsals at school weren’t any better as I couldn’t seem to remember any of the lines. Mrs. Young still tells me to this day how bad we were.

On the night of the show, I remember being so nervous. I was positive I’d forget all of the lines and just get star struck when the lights went on. Next thing I knew I was on stage, and it was time to show the audience what we’d been working on. Everything following that is a blur to me all I recall is the moments I was off stage trying to remember what was next. I had a monologue to end everything off where I sat at the front of the stage wrapping up the tale for the night.

When I finished, something happened that I never expected. Everyone in attendance rose to their feet and began clapping. It was the strangest feeling I’d ever had at that age. At the moment, I thought it had to be for everyone and not just me. But afterward, all the adults kept coming up to me and telling me just how much they enjoyed my performance. Apparently, I hadn’t forgotten any lines and did an amazing job. I was so enthralled with the fact that little ol’ me did something worthy of any form of praise.

Whenever Mrs. Young talks to me she reminds me of the play and how impressed she was. I never considered how much that meant to me until I accepted my calling to preach. When I did the play I stepped into being able to stand before people without being afraid of anything. I just did what came naturally to me which is let go and just flow with the feeling. I am thankful for the way she reminded me of the foundations I’d built all those years ago. God placed it in me to just go as called and everything will work out for the good. Thank you Mrs. Young for always letting me know just how much I’ve grown and continue to grow. #wepreach #giverosesmonth