The credits. Whether it was a drama or a documentary I was keen to see who was in the credits. Not because I knew everyone in there, but just in case there were recurring featured individuals.
I was always intrigued with how they ordered the cast of characters. Which characters were considered mor important, which characters were played by the sort of actor who could garner a featured position in the list. For example there was that “and” part of the list at the end of the cast for that special actor who wasn’t big enough to get the lead but couldn’t be relegated to just the seventh name on the list. All those kind of things intrigued me about the credits particularly with those regular programmes and the changes in the cast over the series.
Life can be viewed in a similar way in terms of being full of a cast of characters some of whom play a vital part in your life and others who are more incidental albeit still worth mentioning. There are those who may not feature as regularly but because of their previous significance they would merit the “and” part of the credits towards the end. There maybe those who are stalwarts of the cast list over the years, but there can be times where new characters features and some old characters are less prominent.
That has certainly been the case for me this year. Even in comparison to last year there are people who were at the heart of what I did in life, who are, for a variety of reasons, more on the periphery. Then there have come along brand new people who I didn’t know this time last year who have become, for a variety reasons, far more central to who I am and how I function today.
These play a pivotal role in reminding me that against my inclinations at times, life is relational and social activity. The fullness of life is found in relationship with others and the capacity to remain humble in engaging with others can truly be an enriching experience. The change in the cast over the year highlights how things can change and both how I am to treasure those wonderful relationships brought my way and how likewise I’m not to put them at such a height that their loss would become detrimental to my capacity to function.
I am grateful to God for His kindness through the year of this cast of characters. He uses these to highlight how essential they are for me to get to know more of who He is, get to know who I am in my engagement with these relationships. As well as that, I discover the wonders of His Kingdom interacting and engaging with this cast of characters whether it is local neigbourly conversations or Kingdom projects with loved ones on aanother continent.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 