STANDING UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT by Jenn Kelly

My guest today is Jenn Kelly, a really fun writer of Children's books, who also loves the stage.  Take it away, Jenn. 

Jenn Kelly, author and actress

So I agreed to do this play. I was excited about doing a play. Very very excited. It would be my fourth play with the theater troupe. I was excited because it was a gritty/serious/dark humour/poverty play. And I got to grab a part without auditioning. I was very excited.

And then I read it. (And no, I'm not telling you what it was)

Oh dear.

It depressed me. It angered me. It made me feel sick to my stomach. The jokes in it, the way the characters behaved! 

I...had to email the director and say no, and state my reasons. They were so personal. And no I did not have the guts to call her on the phone. Just thinking of the reasons alone made my face very red and my stomach churn so loudly I thought I was going to be sick.

I know it was a brilliant opportunity and I know that I would have learned so much from her, a professional director.

But I said no.

A few years later, I tried out for another play. 'Steel Magnolias'. And I totally nailed Shelby. I was brilliant. 

And yes, I was offered the part. And then I found out that rehearsals were Sunday nights. When I went to church.

Oh, it's only six weeks, you can go late...

But I said no.

And oh, how it hurt to say no. It was SHELBY for goodness sakes!

But I don't regret it.

How can I allow award-winning yet awful plays to be produced? How can I skip my weekly feeding of corporate worship time?

I can't.

God instilled a filter in me a long time ago. A filter that reminds me that I am here to build Him up. That I am here to encourage others, to show them the love of Jesus, to show them that regardless of how bad it is, we can always find peace. That I am here to be fed at every single opportunity.

Otherwise, who am I living for?

I said no.

Yay me.

www.jennkelly.com

 the closer you get to God, the smaller everything appears....

Purchase Links for Jenn Kelly's humorous kid's books

Jackson-Jones Book Chicken Zonderkidz

Jackson-Jones Book Tale Stinky