Life on Yavin IV: Character or Actor

Life on Yavin IV

Hello there. I'm Jedi Knight G. Since the creation of the New Jedi Order by Master Skywalker, the Jedi have been free to take part in previously forbidden activities. One of those being Marriage. The following are the tales of my experiences being married with children. May the force be with you...G.

3.01.2006

Character or Actor

"Characters don't talk back to writers and complain about a story-line (only actors do that)." - Brandon Massey a.ka. 'B'

Ok. So that's not a Star Wars quote, but I don't want people to think that I'm too obsessed with that galaxy far, far away. So I've used a quote from B.
In a recent email exchange between B and I, he made the above statement. It was in reference to some circumstances in his life that currently have him a little off balance.

Now I'm not the great writer that B is. I can't paint that nice illustrated picture of my thoughts the way he can, but I wanted to give it the 'ole Jedi try anyway.

It took all of 2 seconds after reading that line for me to just get slapped with a reality check. Am I a character or an actor. You see, even though B wasn't sure of his current situation, or where it was going, he still maintained that God was in control and he wasn't about to make any changes without His direction. That's character.

Roman 5:3-4
3We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us--they help us learn to endure. 4And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.

Develops character.
I can't tell you how many times I've walked away from a movie thinking...man, I wished they'd have spent more time on character development. Typically with out it the movie suffers. You can have a cast full of great actors, but if there's no character development, there's no substance to hold on to.
Actors are just that. They 'Act'. They play the part. If a particular part doesn't interest them, they move on to find one that does.
A character is an intregal part of the story. Whether big or small he/she has a purpose in how the story is told. Throughout the story the character continues to develop as a result of his/her interaction with the story.
An actor may whine and moan about their given role. It's not big enough. Not enough screen time. Too complex. etc.
A character doesn't question the aurthor. He/She accepts their role, wheter it's a bit part, a supporting role, or one of the stars. They are faithful to the aurthor and His plans for them.

Hebrews 12:2
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

God is the Aurthor of this great story that is being told. I don't want to be just another 'Actor' playing a part, manipulating my way to the front of the stage so I can be in the light. I want to be a character that continues to develop under the master storyline that God has written. I want to learn and grow from the experiences that are part of my given role, because when the final curtain is drawn on this act, I want God to look at my 'character' and say..."Well Done."

posted by G. @ 10:12 AM

1 Comments:

At 8:28 AM, Unknown said…

G,

well said and well written. I get a $1 everytime you use one of my quotes. thanks for the change,
B