You never know who's watching.

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Bluedragon

New member
Aug 3, 2020
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#1
One afternoon I received a phone call, asking that I visit the music Pastor in his office. He knew that as a Sales Manager I was on the road every other week. "I need to know if you will be in town the entire week before Easter." I looked and replied "I'll be the week two weeks before, I have no plans to travel for two weeks." "Then let me introduce you to Barrabus." The Production was "Bow the Knee." It involved being on the stage the entire three hours. Two songs and a mountain of drama dialog. A lot of study and memory. "Game?" "Let's go." The Sunday before Easter was the first night. Uncertainties, spots, cues, ad limbs when lines forgotten. Curtain up and off we went. Everything by the book, no pranks....at the end we would traditionally talk to the crowd, greet, meet. A middle aged woman approached as my headset was being removed by the sound crew. In her hand was two photographs. " You inspired me to come forward to meet you tonight." She handed me the first photo " This is the roadside cross where my husband was killed three months ago. Killed by a drunk driver. He was a bible reading God fearing man. I have no doubt he is in heaven waiting for me." She then handed me the photo of a second cross on the side of the road. " This is the cross for the woman that hit my husband's car head on. I have no idea what her beliefs were. I came to ask that you pray for her." I sat down on the platform, still in costume. "You realize that if she was not a believer all the prayer in the world does her no good now?" We talked for a while before parting ways. I would meet her again months later.

This Production affected many in unseen ways.

On Thursday, I decided to take the afternoon off. Because we were true road warriors our VP of Marketing demanded we be out a week, then in a week. "Give you time to fix or repair everything broken while you were on the road." We saw Doctors, Dentists, Car repair, then there is the rebel in me. An afternoon on the golf course. Our Marketing Secretary asked me one afternoon "You go occasionally and play golf alone, why?" " Because God and I have a lot of things to talk about."

I arrived to find a loaded parking lot. Thursday before Easter, snowbirds getting their last rounds in before heading north. The starter told me that I would not go out alone, three others would be with me. I was introduced to a young guy from Michigan. The source of my title. Immediately an older couple from Canada joined us. "This is your home, your course, advise us on each hole and do the honors on the first tee." " long straight Par 5, no traps, stay away from the right, cross the ditch, lose a ball." First drive dead center about 275 out. Everyone else hit, then a second. My approach was a sweet 3 wood about 210 and on the front of the green. Two putts, birdie. Great start, then downhill from there. Driver bad, fairway woods bad, long irons short irons, disaster. 15th hole. I advised long Par 5 on your second shot, you must carry the canal. A canal you couldn't see. Just four very short posts to the bridge. Last to tee off. Straight down the middle with a roll about 295 to 300. Everyone else hit their third shot. I hit my second, we lose it with a kick of dirt in front of the bridge. Everyone else carries the water. I believe I'm in the canal. My ball had rolled across the bridge and was on the fairway. My third shot, I am on the green a few feet short of the pin. Another birdie.

The next tee, we have one foursome leaving the box, three waiting, we are number four. John asks " Mind if I ask a personal question" " Not at all" "Are you a Christian?" "I am, why do you ask?" "It's obvious you can play golf. It wasn't a good day, you never yelled, cursed, slammed a club, threw one. You simply smiled, at times shook your head, then helped everyone else find their ball and advised the next shot choice. I knew you had to be a Christian, where do you go to church?" "John, you are from Michigan, I'll describe where I go, you will not recognize where it's located." I described the location and what the church looked like "I was there last night! Production! It's called umm, ummm" " Bow the knee" "That's it! Were you there too?" " Every night." "Man, this guy sings the feature song, do you know him?" " Yes I do" at this point we have 12 guys listening plus the couple from Canada. John gets louder with an audience "This guy brings the house down, the choir is great, Jesus on the cross, you guys have to see this! Ray, who is the singer? Can I meet him, will you introduce me?" By this time I'm trying to figure out which golf bag to crawl into. John continues on until it hits me. Suddenly I reach my hand out and say " Allow me to introduce myself, my name name is Barrabus." Suddenly I was handing out flyers and suggestions times to arrive.

Friday riding the bus from the parking lot to the sanctuary. Into the building, up to the soundbooth, they want a stage sound check. I looked below to the floor below, two full rows filled with golfers, wives and my golf partner. I explained to Paul the events from the afternoon before. Across the balcony, down the stairs on to the stage ... one lone voice shouts "There's Ray! Hi Ray!" I smiled and waved. Music started, sang a few lines...thumbs up Paul motioned for me to come back to the booth. He presented his idea "I know before getting into costume that you will stop and greet your guests, choose five or six, bring them to the choir room and tell the story" I met a lot of new friends that evening. With guests in tow, we entered the choir room. After introductions ... "You never know who's watching" what would John have thought if my public display had brought shame to the mission of the choir and our church? I was being myself, Jesus had told me he was watching.