Continuing the dialogue.....
Steel Magnolias
Dear Friend,
As a theater ministry, Acacia seeks to offer high quality theater, which affords the opportunity to view one's life in relationship to the fullness of God's truth. We pray that our shows offer an occasion for thanksgiving, growth, enjoyment and understanding. Without detracting from the theater experience, which we hope you enjoyed, and obviously without foreknowledge of topics dealt with in the "Talk Back," we would like to continue the dialogue by sharing some of the thoughts that the board of directors discussed after reading this play.
The play you have just seen deals with families, friends, and life. Each character faces the challenges of living day to day surrounded by the world and all of the events, blessings and tragedies therein. In many ways, the play mirrors our daily lives, and the events we each face as we make our way through the world. At many times in our lives we have found ourselves asking questions like: “How do I go on…?”, “How do I move forward…?”, “Why are these things happening to me or to those I love…?”
These are not isolated questions, nor things unique to one person or another. Man has asked these questions throughout time and God always answers in terms that we can understand. The Bible tells us:
Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell.
Psalm 5: 1-4
To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. John 10:3-4
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. I John 5:14-15
In every situation God provides an answer – a way out. The theme for Acacia’s current season is “Wondrous Love”. In His Wondrous Love for us, He has given us each other. It is His desire that we love one another and therefore, help and support each other. The community in Steel Magnolias did just that. They ignored each other’s idiosyncrasies and shortcomings and decided to love and support each other. This is not only a good idea or one of the ways in which God answers our prayer; it is also His command.
Share each other's troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord's command. If anyone thinks he is too great to stoop to this, he is fooling himself. He is really a nobody. Let everyone be sure that he is doing his very best, for then he will have the personal satisfaction of work well done and won't need to compare himself with someone else. Galatians 6:2-4
And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't get discouraged and give up. That's why whenever we can we should always be kind to everyone, and especially to our Christian brothers and sisters. Galatians 6:9-10
God grants that life is daily and that in living our lives we may choose to live them as a blessing or as a condemnation to His existence and Glory. God asks that we revel in our joys and share our sorrows; that we be the balm to those we love and those who love us. He gives all we need to thrive in this world and in free will grants us the right to choose. We must choose to love each other.
As the Father sent me, so I am sending you. John 20:21
As we Live and Love in Christ, we become strengthened. We encourage and exhort you to apply effort and love each other. Find someone who may be hurting and render support – and so fulfill our Lord’s command.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors
Acacia Theatre Company
