For the last couple months I have had the opportunity to get to know the MOST amazing women.
After shortly moving into our ward here, it became known that I had previously had callings in music and playing the organ. For some reason, some assumed that since I can read music, I can also sing. I have never really had the opportunity to sing with a good choir and always felt this is a talent I want to develop at some point of my life. So, I took a leap of faith (or perhaps they did in asking me) and committed myself to doing “The Parable of the Ten Virgins” for a Relief Society Meeting.
Our three initial practices turned into multiples of that; the promise that we could use scripts turned into ‘memorize your lines and music’; the thought I had of a standard Relief Society program turned into a massive production with costumes, props, lights and a sound system.
Having known this beforehand, I may have been more inclined to turn down the invitation to participate, but I am thankful I stepped WAY out of my comfort zone and tried to develop a new talent.
Aside from anything else, I feel I have a special friendship with each of these women I have gotten to know through this production. Our director has been on Broadway (as Glenda in Wicked and Eponine in Les Misérables as well as others) and one of the other women has been on West End here in London (as Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins). Needless to say, this was an amazing experience for all of us to work with these two amazing women.
I love this parable more than I did before. It has such a beautiful message. I think I always looked down on those ‘foolish’ virgins for not being prepared, but put in different lights of using it up in service of others, being rushed to do everyday tasks, and wanting to protect something you care about rather than using it carelessly – really made me feel sorrow and love for them. I hope I will be prepared for whatever comes, whenever it comes and be a ‘wise’ virgin.
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