03.04.06
Lifesong
The rush during midterms to cram and catchup on several missed classes, homework and reading seemed pretty intense. Five midterms lined up day after day over one week. Fortunately our Mechatronics program didn’t have any classes running during that exam week. Long night after long night was spent at the books, only coming “up” for the “fresh air” of the actual midterm writing. So that was pretty intense… my eyes must have gotten worse through that time.
The past three weeks since midterms ended though, has been even more intense. This time has proven to be quite a unique experience in my life; one which I am sure I will remember far down the road. Every term the UW Chinese Christian Fellowship (CCF) puts on a production/event for the purpose of sharing our faith and testimony. This term the theme was “Driven” (i.e. what is your drive in life?). The format of the event was decided to be a drama play (which we do write ourselves), live music, and a testimony.
I initially signed up to be an actor, something I haven’t really done except for the little bit in grade 9 drama class. By the end of the second planning meeting I somehow got elected as Drama coordinator. So ok… I’d be acting and I’ll also just coordinate some practice times. Some simple scheduling and communications, np. After that meeting nothing really happened as most people, myself included, dived into midterms. When it was over the script writing crew got going. There were a bunch of ideas everyone had on how to carry the story. We came up with all kinds of characters and some very neat ideas for settings. What was missing though was the central plot “driver” =p of the story, the conflict which would pull things together and allow development of the story. The play was in progress of writing, nonetheless, and showed good results with respect to individual characters and how we wanted them to be identifiable with the student audience. Still, that something crucial was missing and it was became clearly inhibitive to progress. Since in the immediate time after midterms I didn’t have much to do, I started to help out writing the script.
Come Wednesday Feb 15 (I think… I’ve lost track of time in this past while…) we had Lifesong prayer and planning meeting. It was a very fruitful meeting with a lot of concerns addressed and much attention brought to the scriptwriting. Together as a group of 15 or so we hammered out the main plot driver and the structure of the character relationships. It was awesome stuff but sadly it required a lot of changes in the script.
That Wednesday was actually the “due date” I had loosely put on the script writers, knowing that it would be difficult for them, but also having to consider the actors and our need for practice and lines memorization. Given the tight schedule we were working with I decided to invest more of my time in helping script writing. Helping with ideas, then helping with some lines editing, soon turned to helping with actual script writing. Bryan, Victor and I would day in day out be at it working on the script in victor’s room (the house living room). Classes began to be missed (well, more often than not it was by me). By Saturday 18 of that week we still weren’t done, and that was the “official” deadline. Well… couldn’t do much about that. There was only reading week and one more week left before actual Lifesong. We kept at it with many long nights. Revision after revision. I don’t even remember anymore with all the emails I’ve sent out… I think by Monday 20 we had the “final” one done. Then after some feedback by email we changed up more things. Then another email, then more changes. Then another email, then more changes. Then we had to practice because time was running short, head honcho lifesong coordinator Anne gave us a lot of suggestions for change and so did the actors. So we changed. And revised. And revised. Big portions of the script were still being revised right through until noon on Saturday 25, after staying up until 730AM, sleeping 2hours, and waking again to finish. Whew. Then it was done.
So drama practices began. Minor line changes still were still being made. Corrections made. Updating these revisions onto the script and mass email spamming. It was rough with the few practices we had. A lot of work had to be done on actors positioning, stage layout, actual direction on how to act and the tone of voice etc. It was quite a chaotic time. Then throw in the props for each scene and the stage layout with heavy furniture. Things weren’t looking so great. At the time there was also no stage crew; everything was planned with that in mind, so the actors and I had to take care of that as well. All that then had to be planned and added to the script. Then add the cues for actors, lighting, stagecrew, music team, A/V team. Speaking of which, lighting at the venue - RCH 101, wasn’t optimal, but at least we had some control on dimming lights and some solid stage lights. It would’ve been great if we had moving spotlighting control and stage lights that dimmed instead of entire room lights that dimmed. The room itself was a sizeable lecture hall but had no real stage and little space to work with, especially since the band will need 1/3 of the space.
But sorry, I digress…
It’s been a hectic three weeks. I’ve missed over 10 days of classes. I’ve been sleep deprived. And I’ve pulled my latest all nighter by going til 730AM. From signing up as actor, to becoming Drama coordinator, director, scriptwriter. It’s all been quite a challenge and an experience like no other. As upper years have said, Lifesong is not only an amazing time for outreach, but also an amazing time for fellowship and personal growth. I can now testify to that myself.
God has really revealed Himself to me in this time. With all the stress and frantic organization He has been my guide. Originally there was no one stepping up to share their testimony for the night’s event. But by prayer, God answered so amazingly and graciously, having built up, challenged, and called Herman to this in such perfect timing. This wasn’t just any testimony either; it was a testimony which matched and meshed with the script perfectly. God is so good!
God really blessed this Lifesong. Many people have talked about how they can identify with the characters and the theme of the play. I truly believe that it wasn’t by our efforts that the event was successful. It’s success in entertaining was our effort, but it’s success in it’s actual purpose was by God and our prayers.
Something else I’ve also learned to appreciate more during this time is how serving God helps you see God. If you don’t submit yourself and devote yourself in doing things of God, then you won’t see God. These “things” aren’t necessarily formal ministries but what is key is that bold commitments are made. Bold decisions. Acts of the will that consciously, consistently, and constantly align you with God’s will. How do we see God’s power in answering prayer if we aren’t in a position of need. If we don’t do bold things and ask for bold things, but instead ask for little things, selfish things, if we only pray briefly and without conviction. IMMERSE yourself in God’s work and you will know God. Approach Him from the distance, and you will see Him at a distance.
Matthew 17:20
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Powered by FireStats