Memorizing more than Bible verses

Last week I decided to audition for a Shakespeare play. I noticed the announcement:
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.
Botanic Gardens.
Director: Barry Kyle, former director for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Though it made NO PRACTICAL sense to audition. It's an Asian produciton and I'm white. I've got a full plate already for next April and May, and I'm in almost daily physical pain.
Strangely I kept coming back to the emailed announcement.
It was like a personal challenge.
Maybe something like when people have this dream of "running a marathon" or "hiking Mt. Everest."
I had this urge to just give it a try.
I don't want to live a life with regrets, so I started memorizing, praying, "Anytime you want to let me know I am being foolish, or shouldn't do this...you can let me know!"

I didn't want to choose just any old good monologue.
Knowing the benefits of memorizing the Bible for wisdom and a sage outlook on life's circumstances, I started thinking about what portion of the Bard's work might "renew my mind."

So I chose 1 minute of the final words in TAMING OF THE SHREW (V.ii). Jim has always called himself my Petruchio; which is more wishful thinking than anything really. Perhaps now that I've memorized these lines, I'll actually be converted:

When a woman is froward, peevish, sullen, sour
and not obedient to her husband's honest will,
what is she but a foul contending rebel
and graceless traitor to her loving lord?

I am ashamed that women are so simple
to offer war when they should kneel for peace,
or seek for rule, supremacy and sway,
when they are bound to serve, love and obey.

Why are our bodies soft, and weak, and smooth,
unapt to toil and trouble in this world
but that our soft conditions and our hearts
should well agree with our external parts?

Come, come you froward and unable worms!
my mind hath been as big as one of yours,
my heart as great, my reason haply more,
to bandy word for word and frown for frown.

But now I see our lances are but straws,
our strength is weak and weakness past compare,
that seeming to be most which we indeed least are.

Then vail your stomachs, for it is no boot,
and place your hand below your husband's foot
in token of which duty, if he please,
my hand is ready, may it do him ease.

When I told the director that my husband would be very happy that I had committed this to memory. He said, "Oh, you tell your husband that he's a pig." I answered, "Oh, no. He's really not!"

I had a good (and scary time) following through with the audition. Those who held the audition were warm (except for the ice woman who checked us in), and the director gave some time to encouraging me after my two pieces. While I was waiting for another friend to show up for her audition time I chatted with some actors in the green room. Just doing it was a confidence builder.

Your Enemy the Devil Prowls About Like A Roaring Lion...

1 Peter 5:8,9 is such a crucial verse to know.
But even knowing it by heart (for more than 20 years) doesn't ALWAYS
guarantee victory in every spiritual battle.

Among a few highlights in a week "taking it easy" 'cause of my neck
pain, my Bible study pondered & discussed the Daniel in the lion's
den story. "WE LIVE IN THE LION'S DEN! Is your sword
sharp?" (Ephesians calls the word of God "the sword of the Spirit")

Then, yesterday I finished doing "steps to freedom in Christ" with a
new believer here.
It took us three sessions to get through it. "Old Scratch" is NOT
happy about my perseverance.

My husband has had a number of events (thailand and here).
The CRM president was visiting recently. CRM Singapore is gaining
momentum.
Jim's preaching again tomorrow.
All this good fruitful work doing ministry helping people have a
focused life and living with purpose...

In the midst of this, today I've felt so discouraged about my worth/
effectiveness and had such feelings of despondency!
Wow. Sometimes the Enemy is so OBVIOUS in his attacks and I still let
him sink his teeth in before wising up!

Permission to be "unproductive" in your Creativity

Had a few visitors from CRM* this week. Two stayed here and three in a nearby hotel. It's always nice to hear more of what's going on in other places with our organization. Enriching to get to know better others who like us, live by faith, are supported by others who believe in us and what we're doing. Nice to meet others who share the values & ethos of CRM. *Church Resource Ministries

I had a chance to chat with Alex & Kat about my undying passion for theatre. Why do i have this bulldog determination to figure out how to practice it as part of worship, in building up followers of Jesus, and in sharing what we've found to be ultimate reality: An all powerful creator and sustainer God who though holy, loves each of us intimately and wants realationship with us! (Okay, maybe I wasn't chatting, I was more like pouring my heart out!)

Kat. sweet quiet Kat. I found her later browsing an art book in the living room. My talking about theatre and what I'm doing or dreaming about stirs up some important part of her GOD'S IMAGE-BEARING SOUL that has not been allowed to flourish. Only recently has she been allowing herself to let her creative spirit out: she's loved making hand made greeting cards. Loves collage. She enjoys the process of creating things. Enjoys. Gets joy in being creative.

But the censors in her life, and memory, and mind shout loudly:

IT'S NOT PRACTICAL! WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF IT?
How unproductive. Spending all this time to make something that no one sees, or maybe one person sees. What's the point of wasting your time on that?

I immediately get defensive and mad. What's the point??!!??? What's the point of doing something you enjoy?!??? What's the point of celebrating creativity and beauty??

So, for Kat and anyone who may read this who needs some reminders that GOD loves to be impractical in his creativity, I'm going to make a list:

• Why is every snowflake, or fingerprint, or strand of dna different? Seems like a lot of trouble to make them all unique! What's the point God? You do it just for fun??!!??
• Who cares about wildflowers of exquisite beauty that blossom in forests or desserts or fields that no one sees? Some are even scented. What's the point?
• Millions of insect species? What's the point?
• Glowing neon fish and unusual mysterious animals in the dark depths of the sea? Where's the purpose in that?
• Why do our hearts soar at seeing some photograph or video of a scene of unspoiled nature? Why is it especially powerful if it happens in real life? Why is natural beauty - creation - beautiful to us? Could it be that it's because we're getting a priviledged view of God's "private collection"? What's the point of having all this nature if no one sees it, or skiis it, or builds a resort near it?
• Why do we have such a natural appreciation for unspoiled nature?

What's the point or purpose of all this nature that is seen only by God?

It's really okay for us to immitate him. Really. It is. Go enjoy making something today that is beautiful but won't last. Enjoy making that meal and consuming it. It's not just FUEL to keep your body running so that you can run back out there and do more practical purposeful things!

Go ahead. Make something.
And don't feel like you have to make excuses for yourself doing it.
God doesn't. Why should you?