Thought for the day banner

PC 
Peter Charlton

“Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past.
See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
(Isaiah 43 18-19)

Just before the advent of coronavirus when the world turned upside down, I had a disagreement with, and parted company from, my agent.

“It’s going to be a struggle now to find work”, I said.  Sue laughed: “You’re 82 why are you worried about finding work?”  I’ve been part of the entertainment world since 1954 and I still haven’t tired of getting up in front of an audience or a camera though I must admit I am fortunate enough not need the money that may bring. I have, for some time now, been cutting back on puppetry because of the hard lifting that is required – although so far I haven’t been able to part company with the puppets!  My band, “Puppets & Praises” (Telling the Good News with Puppets and Rock ‘n Roll) haven’t gigged for more than a year but still haven’t been able to say we’re done.

 Now our business is in dire straits with all theatres firmly closed and unlikely to re-open until sometime next year.  Many will not survive, many will have to make drastic changes if they want to stay in business.  Doom and gloom a-plenty!

But God says, “Forget about how things were in the past, look to the future” so perhaps this could turn into a really exciting time for us as we search for new ways of presenting drama, song and dance.   Will I take a part in this ‘new thing’ or will I just be sitting or standing in the audience?  I think the path through the desert and the stream through the wasteland may be full of exciting times and with Jesus safely holding my hand and guiding me how can it not be good!

Prayer: God of Yesterday, we knew you then: your promises, your words, your walking among us.  But yesterday is gone.  And so today we are in need of change.  Change, and change us.  Help us to see life now not through yesterday’s stories but through today’s.
Amen

Pray for: All people working in the Entertainment Industry that they may be given the courage to face the future and the wisdom to share the journey with Christ.