The Opening Act

"You're only as good as the people you take advice from." - Kendra Scott, Born to Shine

I am currently reading Kendra Scott's book Born to Shine. It is really an amazing complement to the introspective journey that I am on. The subtitle is "Do Good, Find Your Joy, and Build a Life You Love." Sounds good to me!  

As I make my way through the Self-Discovery Journey and I start to consider some moves that would completely change the course of my life, I naturally want some advice. I am reading Scott's book, reading Evelyn Lim's articles, and seeking advice from people I know. But who to go to? I do believe that Scott is correct: you are only as good as the people you take advice from. (Subtext: choose wisely!)

I turned to my childhood friend Aimee. She is one of the smartest people I have ever met. Plus, she is beyond real, and she knows me very well. She is a great source for ideas and has an incredible way of helping to simplify complex feelings into some simple takeaways. She is very adept at helping me sort out my thoughts.

I asked my daughter's therapist for a recommendation for my own counselor. I am definitely feeling that seeking the advice of a professional is a good way to go. I am working on finding one that is accepting new clients, accepts my insurance, etc. 

In the mean time, my son gave me a piece of advice yesterday: each day when I wake up early to read, journal, think, etc., I should start with a little Bible reading. Not bad advice! He suggested I start with the book of John.

So, I just ready John 1:1-50. (Ironically, as I was reading the book of John, the opening number from The Book of Mormon was playing on my Broadway Pandora station. Two very dufferent books, BTW!) 

John's role is to establish that Jesus is on his way. John is NOT the main attraction ... he is the sent to prepare the way for Jesus. (I can hear "Prepare Ye, The Way of the Lord" sung by the character John the Baptist from Godspell.)  

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

Jesus is such a big deal that God knew he needed some pre-gaming to help people be prepared. John was letting people know that he was the witness to the light BEFORE they encountered the light. It's not unlike giving a pre-test when you teach. You feel your students are going to be shocked when you hit them with the exam; a little pre-test to give them a taste of the real thing will help them before the real thing (that counts!) is put before them. The pre-test often communicates to students that my test means business. I see the parallel with John and Jesus. John is planting seeds. It's a communication strategy I believe in with my whole being!

Of course, this was confusing to John's disciples. (John is not Jesus, but he is important and influential enough to have some disciples. Never really thought about that before!)

And John didn't keep it a secret. He was straightforward with the idea that he was just the opening act.

19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders[c] in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”[d]

The idea that John is sent to prepared people to make straight for the way of the Lord is pretty cool. Listen, life is about reps. You build muscles by doing things over and over. It sounds like God was having the human race build their faith muscle before Jesus arrived. 

So what does God put before us to help us prepare? What feels like the real deal but is just meant to prepare us for the ACTUAL big deal? I wonder what has happened in my life that has been an opening act preparing me for the real thing? Maybe I am on the verge of seeing what God has in store for me next! I am hoping it is full of light. I do believe that a life of joy is what God has in store for me. And I do believe I was born to shine!