Calling is Not a Paycheck - Part II

So as I continue to read the MPT's book I'm amazed. You ever feel as though you read something or see a film or hear a song and it's as though that artist has been secretly watching your life? That's the feeling I have with this book.
The book is having and awesome effect on the students with which I work. I shared with them a snippet of it last week and they really connected to it. In the book there is a story about a college student, Zach, who approached MPT at one of his speaking engagements. Zach felt that he had gotten fallen to the rock bottom of his faith. He was in a place where he wasn't sure what he believed, if he believed in God and how he had gotten there. The story about Zach really resonated with me. I have been there, too. I have been on the edge of things, unsure why things around me are happening and even more puzzled about how to move forward or if God was present or cared. These times came MOSTLY when I was in college.

It was amazing to watch the students connect with Zach's story. It gave permission for some of them to admit they are in the same place. At that point we shared more about how the book affected us and had a time of prayer for each other. It was a defining moment for our group.

Click here to pre-order this amazing book at amazon.com.

My Dad . . . The Rockstar

My dad has also inspired me to blog. He has done several vlog entries about faith. Here is one of my faves. I think you'll agree that my dad is rockstar, too;)

Calling is Not a Paycheck - Part I

So I'm excited to share with you about a new book that is really having an effect on me. As I mentioned author Matthew Paul Turner (check out his blog) visited our campus a few years ago. His latest endeavor is called Hokey Pokey: Curious People Finding What Life Is All About. Click here to go to amazon.com to buy it. In this book he shares about the personal and individual process of finding out your calling. He includes interviews with his friends and some others that he has encountered throughout his own journey. The overwhelming idea is that calling and journey are individual and not subject to a formula. EVERYONE has a calling.
Check it out. More to come as I'm finishing the book.

Why Is Joy blogging?

I thought I should give a little more explanation on how I got to this point. Several of my friends, family and colleagues started jumped right in when the blog craze started, but I really resisted it. When one lives their life so publicly, privacy is a precious commodity. Everyone feels they have a right to give their opinion on the choices one makes so I was worried to give in to that. Despite my hesitation I did blog for MBU for awhile about theatre life on campus, but it didn't go well. I could NEVER think of anything about which to write.

So . . .

Enter one of my favorite authors: Matthew Paul Turner. MPT was a speaker at MBU a few years ago. I was so affected by the things that he shared that I did something I rarely do, I talked with him afterwards. He was a cool guy and seemed genuinely glad to be in his own skin. This year I was working on reading his book that I bought that day and I decided to check out his blog (jesusneedsnewpr.com). He is a truth teller and it gave me permission to share what I really think about things. So here we are. Thanks for joining me in this journey!

Blue Hair

Check out this great musical theatre song "Blue Hair" sung by my friend Courtney Wolfson and written by Joe Iconis. Courtney and I were in 2 shows at the MUNY in 2006. Now she's in the cast of Les Miserables on Broadway. She's part of the ensemble and Eponine's understudy.



Enjoy!

Snow Daze with Raul

I really love the fact that I'm a thirtysomething and I still get snow days. I remember praying for them when I was a kid. It didn't matter that I could sleep in because I would always get up really early and watch the news to see the name of my school scroll across the bottom of the screen. Now I'm the professor and I get a phone call on our schools automated system, but I still have to watch the news to watch the public declaration. There's nothing more glorious than a feeling you've beat the system. Even though no one has control over the weather it's great to get a free day off work and responsibility.

Today I got to watch the PBS recording of one of their Great Performances series. This installment was of the latest revival of the Stephen Sondheim masterpiece Company starring the amazing Raul Esparza (a total and complete rockstar). I've seen this show before but it really hit me differently this time.
I've recently made the decision that Raul's character, Bobbie, is ready to take the leap. Please watch his performance of the show's most famous song: "Being Alive". It's life changing.

Raul's Performance on the 2007 Tony Awards

I've alway wanted to take that step I hadn't realized I wasn't ready until I felt the switch flip in side of me. This "flip" came after lots of change and "revamping" in my sensibilities. I've gone through the biggest internal changes of my life in the last 2 years.

Along with the flipped switch I've come to the conclusion that what I do for a living is not my life. A distinction with which I have struggled for a long time. When you get a paycheck for doing the thing you love it's so easy to think you've arrived. This is especially true when you're an artist. I'm grateful that faith has shown me otherwise. I'm expectant about what God will do.

2008 is not just the year of the rat but the year of balance.

Happy Snow Days!

Let's do the Time Warp . . .

Well, I'm back to the land of blogging. I hope you'll join me as I turn the focus of my blog to the journey of this crazy little thing called life. As I revamp my sensibilities and share my point of view on art, spirituality, politics and so on.

I hope this sparks your creativity and lively discussions.

Thanks for joining me in this new endeavor!