Did I trick you into thinking this post was about a box of chocolates?  I like chocolate, but that’s not where I’m going with this post today.

LIFE IS LIKE A BRANSON SHOW

We live within driving distance to Branson, MO, a popular destination for vacationers in Missouri and surrounding areas.  This town, in my opinion, is mostly known for its large collection of family friendly entertainment theaters, theme parks, lakes and retail outlet shopping.  A couple weekends ago, a specific music theater was offering an area appreciation discount, so we decided to take our kids to the show.  This show is known for being a kid favorite due to its upbeat music and energetic, talented, younger performers.  When I called to make reservations, the only seats available were in the balcony.  The ticket agent reassured me the kids would still be able to see everything, so I agreed to purchase the tickets.  The kids were beyond excited when we told them where we were going that evening.

Upon arrival to the theater, an usher showed us to our seats which were approximately 3 rows from the ceiling.  The ticket agent was correct, we could see the entire stage, but what I should have asked was if we would get the entire show experience.  At one point early in the show, the main floor was lit up with lights and lasers.  The performers were running up and down the aisles, tossing large beach balls over the audiences’ heads.  During this same point in the show, the balcony was dark and boring.  There were no lights and lasers where we were sitting and my kids knew no beach ball was going to make it up our way.  My son looked over at me and said, “I want to be down there.  They’re having all the fun.”

How many times in our lives do we find ourselves standing in our own situation, wishing we could jump down on the main floor where all the action and fun are taking place?  Maybe you’re traveling a path right now that you’d rather not travel.  Maybe you can relate to the feeling in your own life where you’ve been forced to sit in a dark, boring balcony while having a full view of all the fun and excitement taking place in what seems to be everyone’s lives around you.  I’m willing to bet most people have felt this way at least one point in their lives.  When the diagnosis of a serious illness, such as cancer, enters your family, everything changes.  You become removed from “normal” life and are forced to deal with really tough issues which are no fun at all.  In the hardest part of my son’s treatment, I realized it’s really easy to feel annoyed, even envious, of everyone else around you that seems to be allowed to sit on the main floor, enjoying all the lights, lasers and excitement of life while you’re being forced to watch silently, sitting in the dark, boring, lonely balcony…feeling left out on an island without even a beach ball.

If you’ve ever found yourself in a similar situation, I hope what I say next offers you some encouragement.  This too shall pass.  Believe me, I know in the midst of storm, it feels like it will never end.  But, two things are for sure, nothing lasts forever and God’s always there.  While waiting out the storm, spend some time with your eyes closed and head bowed, praising, thanking, seeking and asking.  But, don’t forget to keep your eyes open and your head up the rest of the time because you don’t want to miss the lasers, lights, giant colorful beach balls and other blessings God allows to come your way!

2 Corinthians 4: 17-18, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever.  So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

John 1:5, “The light shines in darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

John 8:12, Again Jesus spoke to them saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

On a side note…We enjoyed the show, but would have enjoyed it so much more if our kids had gotten to take part in the entire experience.  There is so much talent in Branson.  If you’ve never visited, it would be a perfect family getaway!