It’s always a little hard to come down from the mountaintop of a performance weekend—all the weeks and months of hard work leading up to a show, and then it’s over in just a few days. I’ve heard it called the post-show blues, and I know many from our Josephcast have been dealing with those the last few days.
But it’s not so much missing the actual performing that makes people sad, though that’s part of it—it’s the cast, the working together, the family that develops so uniquely and preciously with each show, yet in a particularly special way with this one, it seemed. As our director told us, it truly is a picture of the Body of Christ—each person playing a different yet essential part coming together to form the whole. Without any of the pieces, this story coming to life onstage to bless many people couldn’t happen—the musicians, the lighting and sound technicians, the stage managers and crew, the parents selling tickets, arranging bouquets, sewing costumes, my mom and our directors managing a myriad of details to bring it all together, and each performer, from the narrators to our littlest girl who played Benjamin’s wife, each playing their part with all their heart, and for Him. Each role is unique, yet essential.
And the community offstage, even more important than on…praying for each other in groups large and small, studying the Genesis account of Joseph as a cast, rehearsing past midnight during tech week, gathering to pray for the audience after each performance (while my dad gave a brief message pointing people to the God who ordained Joseph’s amazing story), wrapped in a big group hug singing the Doxology together through tears after our final show. It was a group and an experience only possible because of Jesus, and I’m so grateful.
So it’s hard to let go. We want to hold onto the memories and the community and the bond that we’ve been given, and I pray we can. But I know God also has new things to come, and we need to trust He will be just as faithful and just as good in coming seasons and challenges as He has shown Himself to be with this show. It’s hard sometimes to not be able to see what the future contains, and sometimes I just want to hold onto things as they are. But sometimes I just need to be still, and listen, and remember He is in control.
“Be still, and know that I am God.” ~Psalm 46:10
“My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.” ~Psalm 28:7
“But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD. I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in Your hands.” ~Psalm 31:14-15
Ohhhhh Kiersti, I know EXACTLY how you feel!!
Hugs and prayers, honey.
Thanks, Jennifer! Have you done theater, then?
Waaaay back in school, and then quite a few Easter productions at church up until about 4 years ago. I LOVED it!!! It was always so sad when we wrapped the last performance.
Neat!