You gingerly open the manuscript and quickly discover that this is an enormous discovery! You pass it on to the appropriate experts and they enthusiastically confirm that this is a Shakespeare play that has never before been seen!Immediately you read through it, contemplating the future possibilities. The first act is incredible as it sets the stage – it’s a Shakespeare tragedy. The second act thickens the plot and interlaces the humorous side characters as only Shakespeare knows how to do. And then you begin the fourth act…
The fourth act?
It appears that the third act is missing! So… What now?
Once again, you discuss the dilemma with the literary experts. They agree: just as a student of Mozart finished his Requiem, so also will the best students of Shakespeare literature piece together a Third Act.
However, due to the fact that this was your discovery, you insist on being a contributor to the Third Act. While there is some hesitation, the literary experts give consent.
The question is this: How will you write it? Will it be exciting to read? Will you stay in tune with the original Author, the original Creator? Or will you try to simply write your own story, a story oblivious to the context and style of the overall play?How will you write your Third Act?
I borrowed this analogy from youth minister David Skidmore, who brilliantly articulated how God, the true Author, has written a similar play…
Act One: God has set the stage with His Creation, the Fall of Man, the separation of God from mankind, the demonstration of His love and care for His people (Israel) – something we may refer to as the Old Testament.
Act Two: The Second Act revs up the plot and provides the punch with the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Suddenly, Grace busts everything wide open. God introduces His Kingdom, and all people are welcome, are made clean, are made worthy to be reconciled back to Him – provided they believe in His Son!
Act Three: You.
Final Thoughts: Write about this past month. Write about the struggles, the victories, the things that gave you spiritual clarity. Realize that you are living out your Third Act. What will you do from here? Write about your future, your thoughts and hopes of things to come, your new resolutions.
I can’t wait till the End! I can’t wait to sit down with all of you with a big, Heavenly bucket of popcorn and watch the stories of your life.
The Third Act. Will it involve the trials, the turmoil, the miracles, the pain, the joy, the anguish, the deliverance, the providence, the answered prayers, the silent victories, the stumblings, the repetitious sin, the conquerings of Satan, the kiss of betrayal, the healing of the Spirit, the thirst for Water, the divine interventions, the risks, the dangers, the unseen angels, the crys of the Holy Ghost, the ugliness of sin, the boldness of faith, the beauty of feet?
OR… Will it just be a story about your good, safe life on earth?
My prayer is that I not just see you in that place, but that your Third Act is worth the price of admission.
God bless each of you on your journey! In the tradition of Paul’s farewell…
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.”
this month has definitely been an eye opener for me. i have learned new things, overcome struggles, and i feel like i've grown closer to god.
ReplyDeletei also just realized that i've found joy again. i have been pretty happy these past few
months but i was not joyful. there's definitely a difference. since these challenges i've found new joy with god. i've been in such a better mood lately. i feel like i've rediscovered him and the happiness that comes with a relationship with him. though i have failed i feel like i have a new chance. a second chance to rewrite my act three.
from here, i think i will continue to participate in some of these challenges. ones like the corner, random, and some others i will definitely continue to do. i want to continue living each day as if it was my last. i want to keep this renewed relationship alive. i want to live as though i only have one month.
Dylon
ReplyDeleteThis month has been amazing it is changing and shaping my future.It has been a rocky road,but it has easded up a little bit.My relationship with God is starting over and eeveryday im getting farther on my walk with God.I hope that the people in my everyday life can set challenges like these.I feel like my act three is amovie people want to see now.If i had one month to live it would be alot like this.This is a life changing experience I hope J.D. does something like this again.
I sit here cry... I've turned into a big baby... but they are happy tears. I have loved these challenges! I love love what they have made me do and see. I was not perfect with them... but i will never be perfect and that is okay. I can agree with Lauren that I have found my joy again. I haven't had that is a really... REALLY long time. I have had an "I don't give a crap" attitude my whole life. I mean I cared but it was easier to show a lack of caring. I do care. I am a passionate person and I will not hide that anymore. No I'm not an idiot... Yes, I know that there will be times when I revert to my coping mechanisms of showing nothing of me (nothing of HIM) because I am not perfect and this world sets us up daily to fail... to bit the dust hard. But God love us anyway and sets us up daily to love and give ourselves 100% to HIM... for HIM!
ReplyDeleteI want my third act to mean something... but I don't ever want recognition for it. Recognition is not for me... I only want GOD to be seen... not this ugly human body that I have. I want them to see my spirit that is clean and bright and loving and free and just down right beautiful because I am cloaked in HIM! It is all because of HIM... so should it all be for HIM?!?!?! I think so and that is what these challenges have shown me... that it how i will try to live from here on out... today is my last day! But every day after is HIS!
This month has been so great. Even though i didn't go as far with all of the challenges as I wish i had, i thought differently this month. I shared more this month. i found myself in situations that i would have never expected to be in talking with people that i didn't know and bringing God into all of it. it was amazing. i think the best part of it though was that i looked more into the Bible than i had in a while. i mean i read my Bible all the time but this time i was actually looking for stuff. i wasnt just reading and forgetting what i read like i usually do, i was looking for things to impact my life.
ReplyDeletei also enjoyed the beauty of life. i apreciated the good and the bad. i made an effort to find the good in everything and to share it with others. the hardest thing was to actually realize that i would not be first in my life if it was my last month. also, going without chocolate and tv, a little bit tough as well.
now i plan to keep these things going, like my outlook on things. i dont want it to change. i might start challenging myself everyday.
this month has opened my eyes to a lot of things. some of the challenges have been harder than others to me personally and it has made me grow as a person and as a christian.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this. It was an eye-opener. I loved experiencing new things. I enjoyed reading what others did also. I thought it was cool that each one of us was doing this together. Everyday was a "Did you read the challenge?!?!" kind of day. It was cool knowing we were united together in doing this, even though everyone's experiences were different. I think that may be my favorite part. Whether we realize it or not, we've grown together. And I think that is one of the most important things in life. Unity. To belong. I thank everyone who participated in this. We'll all look back on this and think 'That was FREAKING AWESOME!'
ReplyDeleteJD. Thank you so so so much for this. You're an awesome leader. You help others DO when they CAN'T, WON'T or DON'T. (You like that, I know.) I love you!
And I LOVE YOU ALL!!!
I have loved this month and the challenges. It has encouraged and challenged me to live more openly for Christ, to share things that I've previously hidden, and to grow closer to God. I hope we can continue to challenge each other to be stronger, more faithful, and more purposeful in our walks in Jesus' footsteps.
ReplyDelete