Sounds of Faith

So I realize I'm already doing really bad about posting, but I bet you would too if you were working 12 hour days, so I'll do my best to fill you in on all that has been happening lately.

Last week we were in big preparations for the big musical of the summer, My Fair Lady.  This production is going to be simply great.  I really like those that have been cast in their roles, with my roommate Daniel being cast as Freddy Eynsford-Hill.  He's doing great and I have to say, when he leaves after the production is over the apartment will not be the same.  Daniel's a cool guy and I hope that he and I can stay in touch just because he is someone interesting to talk with.  Anyways, last week was all the prep work.  Making sure our onstage speakers/monitors were working, and the props that we wired up to work like phonographs.  This particular production has restored my love for this show.  A similar response happened when UNCG did Oklahoma! last fall.

Photo Credit: Margaret R. Toomey

I'm starting to appreciate the classic musical more.  I think because of the simple fact that the older I get, I'm obviously getting further into my career and seeing shows done in a more professional way that makes me cherish them.  We open the show on Thursday night which will be exciting because then hopefully I'll be able to get back to a somewhat regular schedule with work (not that the schedule is bothersome, just some longer hours since we are in technical rehearsals).

After this show opens, it will run until next Saturday, July 9.  So, if you are in town and want to come see a great show call our box office here at UVA.  And let me know because of course I would love to see you.  Once the show is over we will begin to finish getting ready for our next show which is called Boeing, Boeing.  A great comedy, and I'm hoping that I will be able to see a run of the show later this week.  Once I get to do that I will let you know about how great the show is going to be and how you should really come and see it.

Now to something that I have learned within the last week since I my latest post.  So, as I have already mentioned, my roommate Daniel has been awesome and it has been great getting to know him over the past couple of weeks.  Well, last week before bed one night I was doing my look through of my Bible (which admittedly is something I should be doing more often) of my some of the passages I had marked at one point or another that resonated with me at that point in time.  One verse that I came across that seemed great was from Ephesians 5: 15-21.  These verses basically start out saying that one should make the most of every opportunity.  I really found this appropriate considering the talk that had followed reading this verse and the current situation that I am in.

Daniel and I got to talking about our faith lives and how that transpired as we grew older.  It was a great conversation that I got to share with him.  I grew up Lutheran and am so proud to say so.  The experiences that I've had through TEC, Lutheridge, and all the various mission trips I have gone through have been great!  But something I have learned over the years is that while I can be proud of where I came from and what I believe, other people are always entitled to their opinions and beliefs.  Daniel shared about what kind of church he grew up in and it was somewhat different than what I knew.  We discussed about the different customs that happen within a worship service and how the church is run.  There were some similarities and some that weren't.  The great thing that I found during this conversation is that not once did I think, "Well that's really different and to be honest probably the wrong way of doing things."  In fact I found myself so intrigued with the differences that I wanted to learn more and find out anything I could.  Don't get me wrong, I love where I come from, but being exposed to something different is always exciting.  It was great to also talk about what kind of Bible we used.  One that we both have encountered is the The Message.  This is the Bible written in contemporary words, which can be helpful in trying to understand the Words as God is trying to speak to us.  We also briefly talked about books written about the Christian faith.  Daniel has read a lot, and SHOCKER I have not (just in general, since I have not been an avid book reader across the span of my life).  But one book I have been meaning to pick up, which Daniel inspired me to finally buy, is a book called Blue Like Jazz.  I can hopefully (start &) finish that soon with all the other reading I had planned for this summer, but who knows.

I'm just really glad that I have been able to share experiences with a fellow brother in Christ.  Not that there are not other fellow Christians that work here, because there are, but not any that I have been able to share faith stories with.  In my line of work, there are not usually a lot that are open about their faith lives, but that should not scare someone and I'm glad that I am not able to let it scare me.  I love sharing my faith with others that want to listen (I don't force my faith on others).  It's a great way to connect with someone in a way that you may not be able to do so with others.  I have learned through this that I need to continue opening my eyes to the world around me.  I need to take it all in while I can otherwise I'll be spending most of my life thinking about what I should have done during my time at the Heritage Theatre Festival.  I don't like regretting the things that I do so I do what I can to "live in the moment."

I will hopefully be able to post later this week about how the show is going and what all I continue to see of Charlottesville.  This is one spectacular town and I hope that I see everything that I possibly can!