Miracles Do Happen

There aren't many TV shows that I watch on a regular basis. Truthfully, I don't have many choices. Most adult shows scare me out of my wits, and my only other option are the preteen shows. However, one show I will never miss if I can help it, is So You Think You Can Dance. Dance, to me, is worship with your body. That's why this young man has left such an impression on me. I was pleased to find that I could understand some of what he was saying without the translator.

God still performs miracles, if people are willing to see them.

Another Sleepless Night

As soon as I've read it,
I wish I hadn't.
My stomach churns
As if to warn me of
Another sleepless night.

I patiently wait
For my insides to settle
So my outsides can
Get some rest, but it's
Another sleepless night.

Finally, I venture to
Close my eyelids,
But images of horrid,
Unspeakable things make this
Another sleepless night.

After the first failure,
I am wary of
Entering darkness again,
But I must try to avoid
Another sleepless night.

As my mind races,
My heartbeat quickens,
My breathing grows heavy.
Uncontrollable shaking assures
Another sleepless night.

Hot, angry tears
Spill out of eyes that
I am too afraid to close.
I am tired, so tired, on
Another sleepless night.

I try to think of
Someone to talk to,
Someone to share my pain,
But no one on earth can understand
Another sleepless night.

The birds start singing at 5:01,
And the sun creeps up at 5:16.
I offer a silent prayer of thanks
To the One who brings the morning on
Another sleepless night.

The morning light scares
Away the darkness,
And the birds seem to whisper,
"Hush, you can sleep now," after
Another sleepless night.

Exhaustion takes over
As I close my weary eyes.
The bad thoughts are chased away.
I've made it through
Another sleepless night.

I try my best to guard my heart,
But as sure as there
Is dark and light,
There will always be
Another sleepless night.

Who Says Serving Doesn't Pay Off?

On Wednesday night, I got a text from one of my youth pastors asking me to volunteer at Show Hope's production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella. I would be helping to run the merchandise booth, selling t-shirts and what not. I immediately responded with a 'yes' because I knew about Show Hope's mission, and I didn't want to miss an opportunity to serve them. And, let's face it - it's torture for me to have to say 'no' to people who need my help.

As I was preparing to leave the house on Friday night, I decided to look up the production on Show Hope's website, and see what it was going to be like. I was blown away. I was expecting a high school, maybe college-level, performance. Nope, not even close. This Cinderella had a star cast including, Jodi Benson (the voice of The Little Mermaid), Heather Headley (The Lion King on Broadway), Alli Mauzey (Wicked on Broadway), and Jake Speck (Jersey Boys from Broadway).

On our way to David Lipscomb, I enthusiastically asked my mom if we would get to see the show. She said probably not, maybe bits and pieces, but definitely not the whole thing. Though a little disappointed, my enthusiasm stayed intact.

We sold almost $3,000 worth of merchandise before the show had even started. I was prepared to stand alert and the merchandise booth when we heard the show start. However, I was shocked as my youth pastor led us away to a "secret room" where there were extra seats, telling us that he wanted us to be able to see as much of the show as possible.

As a person who loves music in general, especially soundtracks, this was a dream come true! I'd only seen one musical in my life (The Lion King when I was ten), so this was an awe-inspiring, new experience. The singing and acting was all fantastic, just like on Broadway (I imagine)!

In the end, we got to see all but maybe five minutes of the show. So, I got to see a Broadway-quality musical and serve Show Hope! And they say serving doesn't pay off...