Have you ever had something that significantly changed the way you view what you do? I began experiencing that the first weekend in May.
As you probably know, that weekend Nashville and its surrounding community experienced what many have been calling a 1,000-year flood. You might have even seen the video of the house floating down an interstate. Parts of the area were untouched while others were absolutely devastated. Families and businesses, many without flood insurance, lost everything they owned.
I live in Nashville and, with all of that heart-breaking loss, I was having a hard time not seeing what I do as being pretty inconsequential. After all, when there are people around me who have just lost the sum of their worldly possessions-and some, their lives-how truly important is stage lighting and scenery?
Backing up a little, I am a lighting and production designer. Several of my clients are churches. For them, I do many things: like lighting design, event production, and tutoring. A scripture passage that really resonates with me is Exodus 35:30-35, in which we read of "artsy" men God gifted to be creative-and, to teach others. What affirmation!
I am also a volunteer in my local church. I'm often a production manager, have led teams in scenic builds, and am part of a group of guys who help out with things technical around the campus. I am very-much a "task-oriented" person. But I am often challenged to ask myself what my role is beyond leading the accomplishment of a given mission. Am I demonstrating "bigger things" beyond stagecraft? Yes, we continually remind ourselves of our work contributing to The Kingdom Message being shared. But, are things beyond that being instilled in our little band of stage volunteers?
I've now been seeing those questions answered. With no prodding at all, the men I've been working alongside were among the many to respond early to the needs created by the flooding-a few on our church campus, but mostly in the surrounding neighborhoods. They simply showed up. There was zero complaining as we performed smelly, wet, tedious, back-breaking, and heart-breaking work. Even without the "allure" of the stage, these men demonstrated priorities of Christ: community, commitment, compassion, ownership, servanthood, and humility.
Please don't get me wrong. These are great guys and I never once questioned their having these traits. Also, I still absolutely love what I do and get genuinely excited when collaborating with my clients. It was simply refreshing beyond words to see the heart of Christ lived out as our team pulled together for something bigger than the usual job at-hand-and to experience greater purpose in the opportunities I've been given.
