On Sunday, I did what has become a Christmas tradition for me: singing Amy Grant's Breath of Heaven as a solo for my church. This year brought it to a whole new level, as I was able to use the acting tools I've learned over my first year as a New York actress to bring the virgin Mary to life in a whole new way.
I sensed myself being much more vulnerable as well as more open to discoveries along the way as I sang. This vulnerability and openness brought a whole new level of joy, opened me up more to what God wanted to do, and proved to be very useful. Halfway through the solo, a 2-year old Jamaican girl, Samantha, who hardly ever smiles at me or acknowledges my lame grown up attempts to say hello to her, walked up the aisle mesmerized, and I had my acting teachers' words in my head saying, "Go with it." So go with it, I did. I knelt down and included her in the picture of the story I was telling--or rather, God was telling through me. Because really, it was His moment in the sun. This much was very obvious to me.
Afterwards, people kept commenting on Samantha's entrance as one of highlights of the solo. And I am thanking both my Lord and my acting teachers Jeri Smith and Jared Houseman for their advice to "Go with it!" By doing so, I started to understand more what it means to really live the life of the character...and the deep joy that that can bring.
As always, thanks for reading. And merry Christmas everyone!
Beautiful. I was just thinking about you and Mary when I heard "Breath of Heaven" on the radio. Wish I could have been there.
ReplyDeleteI, too, wish I could have been there. Your solo with Mary on piano are a wonderful Christmas memory. And, I would have loved to see the way God used you in that instant at Our Savior.
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat story! It seems that's what using your talent is all about!
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