The actor is on stage in his costume ready to speak his well rehearsed lines. He does an award winning performance. The audience stands with much excitement. The applause, whistles and yells for another curtain call and bow are so powerful they seem to shake the whole theatre.
The actor goes back to his dressing room to change into his regular clothes and the audience leaves. Things are quiet. The praise is over. A sense of emptiness sets in. That is until the next show or the next role as an actor. Shouldn’t things be the opposite where an actor is relieved to go back to who he really is?
What about friends? We all have friends who want to grab the attention of the crowd. When they are in church they are the greatest comforters around. When they are at work they know how to please the boss with big words. When they are at a gathering of friends they bring all the attention to themselves with their boastful stories and funny jokes. They always have a friend of the opposite sex on their arm while others brag on such a beautiful or handsome date. But what happens when the attention is not there? Instead of a feeling of relaxation and ease it’s more of a letdown. There is a craving for another gig of attention. Along with that craving is a fear of being alone. Not only that, they have a fear of one role clashing with another. What if one day the boss who is so impressed meets a friend who attends his church. What if that church friend tells the boss what a great comforter he is yet the boss knows that same person can chug a lug booze. What if, what if, what if. This leads to a serious conflict in their minds until they can get some relief from another gig where they can be center of attention.
With both the actor and friend times alone happen. It is during these times alone that people can reflect on their true identity. The fear of not being accepted by others is very real to them. However the acceptance they get from laughs, roles and acting is not acceptance at all but only an enjoyment for the moment for the people watching.
The true acceptance comes from God. He accepted all of us before we were ever born or we would have never been created. The love and acceptance of Christ is real and no act. The number one thing missing in the life of both the actor and the friend is accepting the acceptance of Christ. Jesus is our audience at all times. We do not have to be an actor or a life of the party to live a reality. The reality is Jesus loves all of us and accepts us just as we are. Accept His acceptance and peace will follow.
Ephesians 3:18-19
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
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