Dress Rehearsal

December 24, 2018

Greetings from the gifted,

What follows is probably not what you expect; it was not what I expected, so it’s safe for me to assume it will be true for you. 

Christmas is a dress rehearsal. 

Before you rush to condemn me for sacrilege, allow me some room.

Christmas is full blown, costumes on, lights blazing, fully orchestrated, music queued, complete make-up, dress rehearsal for every day after. 

Because most of us have been scurrying around buying things and making things and decorating and putting up lights and preparing and preparing and preparing and making everything perfect for Christmas, it is natural to think that tomorrow is the big event, the opening night.  The date on the calendar is circled; it must be the big reveal.

Anticipation is gripping us.  The exhilaration of the morning, seeing the array of gifts, colorful and inviting.  The excitement of opening each one and enjoying the process of giving and receiving.  It is natural to think this is the performance we have been working toward.

Like any good child, I recognize there is going to be stuff, lots of it, and some of it is going to be given to me.  Presents that I will be excited about and enjoy.  I know it will matter in that moment.  But, here’s the thing; it is a dress rehearsal.

We have been leaning forward, waiting for this day to celebrate the Light of the World, to make the day special, to commemorate the story that changed everything for believers, and would-be believers, for thousands of years.  It is THE day. 

It is a dress rehearsal. 

We get close to our family, spend time with friends, we tell them we love them, we give of ourselves, we share intimacies, we feel the relationships so deeply, surrounded by the richness of the day.  We put on our best clothes our best smiles, our best behavior.  It is a special day surrounded by a special season.  And it is a dress rehearsal.  Because next week you could forget your lines.

Every day of the year we are given gifts of incredible value.  Some we set aside like they were fruitcake from the neighbor or a calendar from the local insurance agent.  Some we thoughtlessly regift to someone else, just to get it out of the house.  We are not excellent at getting gifts.  We are barely ready for first audition, let alone opening night.

It is a magnificent, fantastic life we have.  Morning breaks with colors so magic they can change your day.  You learn what passion is.  A friend tells you their dreams over a casual cup of coffee, and it is an amazing moment, because something wonderful has begun.  You discover your true talent is not what makes you wealthy but what makes you fulfilled. Someone pauses in traffic to let you in with no expectation of repayment.  Someone tells you they love you.  Are we ready for those moments, or do we need another week of practice?  If you have not taken a breath and been thankful for it, we need to schedule a workshop.

And this magic, Balthasar’s insight: “What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.”  Look at that inspiration alone and understand that the gift is not just opened and left to gather dust.  It is a dress rehearsal for every day you are alive to share what you are.

We have rushed into the theater, our faces flushed, inspired smiles, glistening eyes, heart racing, and we murmur the thing we say before to gather courage, and we step on stage, because this is the big moment.  It is Christmas.  It is a special day, because it is how we find out what life holds for us every special day.

Tomorrow a Gift is given.  It is one that we are to open every single moment we are awake.  It is meant to be understood, to be embraced in how we live, and to be shared with those we meet.  It is the Gift that we have waited for, but tomorrow, that day, is just a rehearsal for how we show our gratitude.  It is the day we find out what we are capable of, and then we will be almost ready.

It is a day of practice.  It is a dress rehearsal.  It is where we learn to be focused on gifts, practice being present, practice being generous, practice loving and paying attention and being grateful.

It is where we perfect being amazed.  It is where we really learn how to be overwhelmed with the beauty we are given.   And at some point, the Director will step to the edge of the orchestra pit, the script in his hand, and he will say. “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

And then you can get on with the show.

Hope this finds you rehearsing,

David

Copyright © 2018 David Smith