Playing A Small Part

Playing a Small Part

Ducking into the lobby of the local TV station, Melissa stomped her feet on the mat. Hard. To the receptionist, the tween was simply knocking snow off her boots. But each vicious stomp released a little anger, too. And the icy wind was only partially responsible for the red in her face, which was still quite rosy when she reached her dad’s cubicle. He knew right away something was wrong.

“Want to talk about it?” he asked.

“No, this is your big night covering the president’s speech and everything. I don’t want to spoil it with my problems.” Her father insisted, so she continued: “The cast list for the spring musical came out today, and all I got was a stupid chorus part. It’s so unfair! My audition was so much better than the girl who got the lead. Now I’m stuck wandering around the stage with five other nameless villagers without lines. I’m not even sure I want to be in this play anymore.”

“I’m sorry, Melissa. I know you’re disappointed—and certainly talented enough to handle a bigger part. No question.” He paused. “But supporting roles are just as important as starring ones. Every member of the team has a job. Some may be a little more glamorous than others, but you’re all working toward the same goal, right? Things happen for a reason. Sometimes God uses situations like this to humble us and teach us things.”

Suddenly, a producer for the evening news poked his bald head into the doorway. “Hey Jim, last-minute change for tonight. Since the weather’s so nasty, we’re gonna have you wait outside for the president’s motorcade and let Pam work the ballroom instead. After all, she’s eight months pregnant and, well, I knew you’d understand.” The bald head vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving Melissa’s father . . . speechless.

“Sorry, Dad. So what were you saying about supporting roles?”

Daddy-Daughter Time

Have you ever been denied a cool opportunity and given a supporting role instead? What happened? Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 together. What is that passage saying, and how could it apply to Melissa and her dad? What’s the difference between temporary disappointment (as in the story) and coming to terms with the fact that we all can’t be eyes, simply because we’re gifted in different areas?

What’s The Word?

If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part!   1 Corinthians 12:17-19