Run in such a way as to win the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24)
I was in a production of My Fair Lady in high school. My role was small; I think I was credited as the third cockney on the left. But didn’t someone say somewhere that there are no small roles?
Regardless, our school was entered in a state-wide drama competition. First prize included the chance to perform in a professional playhouse. The judges were scheduled to come to the Saturday night performance, but for some reason they showed up on Thursday, the night of our dress rehearsal.
Shortly before the performance, our director explained the mixup to the cast and crew: “This is not just a run-through. Tonight counts. Give your best performance.”
This changed the atmosphere backstage. Getting everything right — every line, every cue, every entrance and exit — was now more important than ever. The judges were in the audience. This was no dress rehearsal. It was the real thing.
You know what? The life you’re living today is the real thing. Sometimes we live as if this is all a run-through, as if we’ll have another shot at it someday.
This is it. Life is now. There is no dress rehearsal. Today counts.
By the way, we won the competition that year.
