Deflated

 

I don’t think that I could be a professional performer. 

I used to want to be in a Broadway show

(Les Mis to be precise—

Eponine to be exact), 

But somewhere along the way, 

I realized that I might get bored doing the same thing over and over again. 

And not only that, 

I think it would be somewhat of a thankless job. 

Yes, there would be applause,

But there wouldn’t be very many accolades after the show because 

You would be doing the same thing night after night and having to stay away from the crowd 

Rather than interacting with it.

 

Last Friday night,

My second and third grade students performed a program on the continents.

In a lot of ways,

We have been working on the program all year

Because we began talking about the continents and world music in the fall.

I decided to extend that concept into their stage performance

And selected one song from each continent except for Antarctica.

As the narration said,

The reason we didn’t sing a song from Antarctica is because only scientists, penguins, and seals live there :-). 

 

The kids worked really hard on the music and I think they learned some things in the process.

115 of them showed up for the performance

And did a fantastic job.

 

Administration was there and commended me. 

A handful of teachers were there and commended me. 

My team was there and commended me. 

But no parent said anything to me

And, honestly, it left me feeling deflated 

On top of being exhausted. 

 

But then I started thinking. 

How many times have I been to a performance and not spoken to the director? 

The answer is more times than I can count. 

I praise the person I go to see. 

Or talk about the performance with the people I’m with. 

But the director rarely gets any accolades 

Beyond the curtain call 

Or name recognition in the program. 

It’s just not what people do. 

Yet for people like me who need words of affirmation, 

It leaves a gaping hole and 

Makes us wonder if we are truly seen…

 

God, 

Forgive my insecurities and 

Help me to rest in knowing 

That I am doing my job. 

And when there is a way,

Help me to speak simple words of affirmation 

To those who need them most. 

Amen.