My Terrible Audition

My Terrible Audition                                               

Have you ever auditioned for anything?

I haven’t many times, but I’ll never forget my very first. I did terrible! And it was so humiliating!

I was in the seventh grade and we had to audition for the choir in the upcoming Christmas program at school. I was a nervous wreck and when I stood next to the piano to sing a line or two, I could hardly get a sound to come out of my mouth. My vocal cords went on strike and the noise that managed to eke through would have made my own mother cringe. 

It was no surprise that when the choir list came out, my name was not on it.

Shortly thereafter we were told that those of us who were not in the choir would be characters in the pageant. I thought, “Well that’s simple enough. I’ve been an angel before in church programs.” 

So finally the time for the cast to gather together to receive our parts and begin rehearsing. I was told that I would be playing the part of Isaiah. 

The voice in my brain said, “Isaiah? Humm—I don’t remember ever seeing that old guy hovering around the manger before.”

I was given my lines and instructed to memorize them. We ran through the various parts and scenes three or four times over the next couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, I took my paper with my part home and began the task of memorization. I was determined not to mess this thing up like I had the singing audition.

As we rehearsed it was confirmed to me that hovering at the manger was not Isaiah’s role regarding the birth of Jesus. He was a prophet of God who had accurately predicted many aspects of the coming Messiah about 700 years prior to Jesus’ birth. As I repeated my lines over and over, the amazing truths about that Baby who occupied the manger grew grander than I had realized before.

Raised in church, at the age of nine I knew I was a sinner and that Jesus’ death on the cross had somehow paid the price of the penalty for my sins. I was grateful for that and always felt it appropriate to celebrate the coming of our Savior as a baby. 

But as I memorized the portion of Isaiah’s prophesy, it occurred to me, then at the age of twelve, that Jesus was more than the only One who could save me and set me on a path to Heaven when I die.

So well I remember the night of the pageant in that darkened mufti-purpose room of McHarg School. Before an overflow crowd of family, friends and faculty, and dressed in a 700 BC consume, I slowly began to walk down the center aisle. When the spotlight hit me, I wanted to panic, but I knew I had an important message to proclaim to the world. 

So in a loud voice and with as much authority as I could muster, I declared, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV).

From that might forward, Isaiah’s prophesy impacted my spirit and it continues to be one of my favorite Passages. I’m so glad that my audition performance was unacceptable. I fully believe it was by God’s design all along.

 

Have you ever botched an audition or maybe an interview that ultimately worked out for your good? I love how God uses our frailties to guide us on the path He has ordained.

Side note: McHarg School was and still is a public school. Obviously, the words of Isaiah would no longer be allowed to be a part of a holiday celebration. 

©Connie Wohlford 2016