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Bit Part or Big Part?
By Melissa Fross Christmas 1986—It would be the dramatic event of the season. My second-grade class was putting on a school play, and, for the first time in our young lives, we had to try out for parts. I just knew I wanted to play the leading female role: Mrs. Santa Claus. Acting played on my greatest strength--a big mouth. It was well known on the playground that nobody could outdo me for sheer volume. The big day came for final casting, and I sat on the edge of my seat until the teachers announced the last few parts. “And performing the role of Mrs. Santa Claus will be…<insert drum roll here>…Tabitha!” What? My stunned 7-year-old mind tried to muddle through the shock and disappointment to figure out why they had picked Tabitha over me. To add insult to injury, the teacher’s next announcement was that the remaining (read: leftover) children would play a “very important” part as members of the Elves’ Choir. I cried all the way home that day. Even though I really wanted to play Mrs. Santa Claus, I dutifully participated in the Elves’ Choir. At every practice, I sang loud and strong in my effort to be a bigger contributor than what my part actually called for. Eventually I got a stern warning because my volume was drowning out the other students. I adjusted accordingly, but I was never happy with my bit part. (This would probably be a good time to talk about how in children’s dramas, there are no small parts, just small actors, but that’s not where this anecdote is headed.) The Big Opportunity On the night of our performance, we were all standing backstage getting ready for the play when I overheard the teachers whispering frantically. It seemed that Tabitha had a terrible case of strep throat and wasn’t going to make it to the play. While they kept asking each other what they were going to do, I walked right over and volunteered. Even though I was in the Elves’ Choir, I had paid attention in every practice, and I knew the Mrs. Santa Claus part cold. Before I knew it, I was whisked away to the ladies’ room and changed into the Mrs. Claus costume. I didn’t even have time to tell my parents what was going on. During the play, they were quite surprised to see their daughter in the middle of the on-stage action, as opposed to on the risers with the Elves’ Choir. I, however, was not surprised, as I knew I was right where I belonged. Even as I write this article, I realize that my desire for the lead part will be misunderstood. Some of you may think I just wanted attention. Some of you will decide I was haughty and believed my acting skills to be superior to Tabitha’s. Some of you may even believe that I sabotaged Tabitha’s young acting career by coughing on her or exposing her to a lab culture. The plain, simple truth is that I considered none of these ideas. I just knew I could do the job well, and an opportunity came available for me to contribute my ability to the task at hand. In hindsight, I’m still very pleased with my performance. I came in on cue and delivered all of my lines accurately and with as much feeling as a 7-year-old can muster. While I was a little nervous, I came through in a pinch for my teachers. To this day, I’ve never enjoyed bit parts when I knew I could contribute a bigger part. Starring In A Different Role Lately I’ve been wondering what would happen if I applied the same approach to my relationship with the Lord. It’s easy to settle into my pew and play a bit part in the Kingdom, to just be satisfied with showing up for church, putting in my minimum required worship, and going home. Doesn’t it seem, though, that God has called us to a bigger part? Imagine with me, if you will. Jesus is sitting in the Director’s chair issuing a casting call to the world: “Whom shall I send? and who will go?” (Isaiah 6:8). He has many leading roles—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, witnesses—to assign, but so many of those who answer the call only want to audition for the role of “Pew Sitter #1,” a character that He can’t locate anywhere in the script. After many days of casting, a few men and women have accepted the task of playing leads, but they’re greatly outnumbered by people eager to become the next “Pew Sitter #1.” What a frustration for the Director! At this rate, it will take thousands of years to find a proper cast for His production. And so it has. Over the years, the production has opened each week with many main roles being played by the few, several important characters never being played at all, while multitudes of individuals play a role that isn’t called for in the original script. Pages and pages of dialogue fall to the floor, lines never having been delivered because nobody auditioned for those parts. Well, I’m tired of my bit part. I’m tired of just showing up and playing “Pew Sitter #1.” I’m planning to try out for “Bible Study Teacher #389” or “Personal Evangelist #1426” as soon as possible. I hear open auditions are running 24/7/365. This time, I don’t plan on taking anyone else’s leftover position; I want my own part in this great plan. To take on a greater role in this real-life drama, I have a lot to learn. I want the Director to work with me, perfect the art, help me become the product of His skill. I think I’ll ask Him to help me hone my craft so that my part in His production is exactly what He’s always had in mind. After all, He wrote the script. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2a). ninetyandnine.com © 2006, Melissa Fross ---------- Melissa Fross is still well-known for being rather loud. Blessedly, God is very patient, and is trying to teach her how to use her skills for His glory, on whatever stage she’s called to play. |
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