You worldview will slip through, even in silliness like Behind Broadway:

Consider these lyrics :

"It well may be, that this chance will never come again, so at showtime, throw yourself completely in your part" -Behind Broadway
"When curtains rise, we know that they will fall, but until then, like a star we have to burn" -Behind Broadway

Juxtaposed to:

"Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live." -Jonathan Edwards

Or consider the lyric "And then whatever way reviews may bend - this path has now been given - and I'll walk it til the end". Originally the lyric said something to the effect of "I have now chosen this path" and I asked TJ if we could change it largely because of the following quote and verses. (also it seemed appropriate because Claire didn't really choose anything that happened to her)

"Brother, be courageous and let us play the man for our God, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to Him." -John Piper

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” -James, brother of Jesus

The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. -Proverbs

Though I haven't asked TJ if he meant to put these little nuggets of truth in the play or if they just happened, they are certainly there. It's one of the reasons I like to write with Teej. He has a way of inserting truth in a beautiful way, that doesn't jar you, and helps you fall in love with biblical principals whether you mean to or not.


Thanks for working with me T.J.

-James

"Forever seems so distant
Much further than today
You turn around and in an instant
You find that you are just as far from yesterday

The day it feels like winter
The night it feels like stone
You turn around and you remember
When you’re surrounded
You can still feel so alone"


Right now is a stepping on glass moment.

Silliness of grief

Grief can be a silly thing. Not silly in the sense that it is trivial, but that it is not logical. I expected it to be like a skinned knee. It hurts really bad, you're bleeding, there's nothing you can do to make it better, but over time it heals. It's been two months since Dad passed away.

The first week it felt like Dad was on a business trip and he'd be home by the end of the week.

I don't ever remember my dreams but the second week I often dreamed that dad had been sick at the hospital and had come back home. I'd wake up believing this to be true only to realize I'd have to wish it to be true.

The third week I found myself asking why dad wasn't back from his trip. I knew that he wasn't coming back, but some part of me was demanding his return. Is it silly that I have to convince myself that dad isn't coming back?

Since then grief and pain of come in unexpected moments. It can be triggered by anything at any time. It's not like a skinned knee, it's like walking blindfolded with bits of glass spread around.

-James

My patient Comforter, my God,
My Life, my Breath, my holy Zeal,
My soul is doubly sorrowful:
That I still sin against your Seal,

And sinning cause my Sovereign grief.
I know it is your holy way
To make your grief serve perfect joy,
But I still pray, O bring the day

When, in the twinkling of an eye,
My soul will doubly be relieved:
I will not ever sin again,
And you will nevermore be grieved.
-John Piper

When reading the bible do you ever feel like shaking it and yell "C'MON! WORK!"....I do.

-James

If God has no wrath there is no reason for Jesus to die. If people abandon the wrath of God they will soon abandon the cross.

So here's a scene that I wrote for a play a long time ago...


Doctor: I know it hurts.

GRIEVING GIRL: But it hurts a lot…I don't like it.

Doctor: I don't think anybody does.

GRIEVING GIRL: I want it to go away.

Doctor: I wish it'd go away too, but you know what?

GRIEVING GIRL: What?

Doctor: Come here, (he puts her hand on his chest.) What do you feel?

GRIEVING GIRL: I feel your heart beat.

Doctor: You know what I feel?

GRIEVING GIRL: What?

Doctor: I feel pain, I feel hurt, and I feel anger, but you know why I feel all that?

GRIEVING GIRL: Why?

Doctor: Because at one time, there was love, and there was joy there. It may be hard right now, but if you continue to love, eventually the pain will fade away. Right now, all you can feel is pain, but the pain itself is proof of the love that proceeded it. So remember this, when you stop feeling pain, and hurt, when bad things happen, you've stopped feeling love too, and love is the most valuable thing we posses.