All the world’s a stage. ~William Shakespeare
Last weekend I drove north to see Phantom of the Opera with my High School teacher son. The plot was stunning, the talent impressive–the students earned the thunderous applause.
If I squinted my eyes I could see my much younger self, watching the lead actors take their bows.
Every year of high school I tried out for a main role. Every year, my shaking finger traced the posted list until, somewhere at the bottom of the typewritten page, I found my modest part.
“There are no small parts, only small actors,” every cast is told. But lesser characters get fewer lines, and seldom get a solo. The message is clear right from the start–the plot’s about somebody else.
Do you ever feel like a minor character in everyone else’s plot?
No one notices me, I have no voice, I’m never heard, I’m overlooked, I’m not appreciated, the spotlight never turns towards me. I thought by now I’d be playing the lead, and I’m still just part of the crowd.
Searching For A Better Plot
You’d settle for even a nod from the audience, a note in the mail that says, “well done.”
- But the same person has hogged the attention again and you leave the party, annoyed.
- In your work or ministry setting you are often ignored and you wonder if you should move on.
- You are surrounded by people of lesser talent, but it’s you who is overlooked.
- You dream of the big break–an agent or angel–someone willing to trumpet your worth.
The truth is, whether you are a main character or an unnoticed extra depends on only one thing–who gets to tell the story.
I think Jesus meant what he promised, “the last will be first and the first will be last” (Matthew 20:16). Someday the stars of the stage will be silent, enthralled by the tales of unknowns. And those who travelled on a third class ticket will walk the red carpet in style.
Then both lead and bit player will lay down their scripts at the feet of the only true Star. The credits will roll, unnoticed. No one will care anymore.
Are you embracing your bit parts, your eyes on a better plot?
5 replies on “A Minor Character In Someone Else’s Plot”
I remember stomping my feet as a girl and firing off these words, “Well, we would get along if you would just cooperate with ME!” I had been outside playing foursquare with my siblings and several neighbors, one of whom was the most influential of the bunch. (Often misinterpreted by moi as “bossy.”) It took many years and plenty of foot stomping for me to realize, I’m not in charge.
Sometimes I still feel like that fourth-grader, but the stakes are higher. Only when I’m submitted to God and cooperating with His plans can I play my minor part effectively.
Thanks for the great reminder, Janet!
I love this story! I can see myself as the foot-stamper as well. Beautifully written!
還有一首啦 “I Believe I Can Fly”副歌 I bevilee I can flyI bevilee I can touch the skyI think about it every night and daySpread my wings and fly awayI bevilee I can soarI see me running through that open doorI bevilee I can fly
This has been from time to time a seething, under the surface, Enneagram 4 issue for me (sshh, don’t say anything, though. I don’t want that getting out. I’ve worked too hard on this shiny persona).
A struggle for artists of many types, I notice!