Audience

Who is your primary audience? Who do you “play to” with your life?

We all play to someone or something whether we acknowledge it or not. Think about that last month or so before your annual performance review. Given that most folks remember what is recent, we really want to be our most brilliant right before that annual meeting.

Or think about the neighborhood picnic. When the conversation starts up about lawn care, remodeling, kids soccer. How does the story unfold? What gets included and what goes on the cutting room floor?

I find myself in the sad position of playing a script I have written that not only is not authentic but is also rarely accurate. It is played for a worldly audience who waits to pounce and condemn, and I’m busy giving that audience an opportunity to do so. What am I thinking?

We all know those very rare individuals who stage little, play to no one and live life in the eye of the worldly storm. Who play and compose music for the joy it brings to them and to others rather than for the paycheck alone. Who play the game – be it soccer or baseball or hide-n-seek – for the fun and thrill of it.

In the scope of the eternal, which audience deserves our performance? Which audience blessed us with our abilities and talents to begin with? Who paid the price for us?

I know which audience didn’t. The one I too often play to.