Finding Hope in Hopeless Times.
This Oscar Wilde quote always made me laugh. It's a spoof of Shakespeare's piece from As You Like It.
"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts . . . ".
All the world's a stage . . . but the play is badly cast.
Have you ever felt that way?
Just take a look at the news, and we see a cast of characters that aren't acting well in their parts. Power is abused, greed is pervasive, injustice constantly knocks at the door, and war and violence are prevalent everywhere. It's overwhelming, to say the least.
When it feels like everything is pressing in on us, we have to have hope.
Many of you know that I am a person of faith and a follower of the Way of Jesus . . . He is my hope, and the hope He is and the hope He gives can sometimes be found in unlikely places. A loved one, a sunset, a beautiful piece of art or music, even the theatre can stir feelings of hopefulness in an otherwise hopeless heart.
Legacy has been reopened for three months now, and I have found beautiful moments of hope in our theater. It wasn't planned, but this year, we seem to be telling stories of REVIVAL and REBIRTH . . . stories of hope. As I sit in rehearsals or during School of the Arts, I am reminded that hope is alive. That the darkest night will end, and the sun will rise. (Les Miserables)
I find hope when visitors come to donate a costume and talk about life for a while.
I find hope when a student breaks a piece of their wall and lets us see their heart through a song.
I find hope when a person realizes that they have gifts and talents and begins to shine.
I find hope when a character comes to life in the hands of an actor and begins to heal a part of their broken heart.
I find hope when a community comes together to celebrate a moment in time.
I find hope when someone gives their time or talents to see beauty come to life.
I find hope in the collective applause of an audience all finding beauty in the same moment.
I find hope . . .
Sometimes, it isn't always obvious.
But it is always there.
Now . . . all this may sound like a bit of nonsense to you. I understand. The Arts/The Theatre may not seem like a hopeful place or even a place that can bring you out of a dark night and into the sunlight. If that's you, I'd simply invite you to join the experience. Theatre must be experienced either onstage or in an audience. So . . . come try it out. Volunteer, Audition, Give, Grab a Ticket, Visit!
Come experience the beauty of The Arts and maybe even find a glimmer of hope and a bit of light in a world
where it seems the play is often badly cast.
