a standing ovation

A few years ago, I was privileged to be the rehearsal accompanist and synthesizer player in the orchestra pit for my parish production of Stephen Sondheim's musical Into the Woods. Before we began, I practiced and practiced on the synthesizer. I didn't truly understand Sondheim's music, I had never used a synthesizer before and I'd never been a part of an orchestra, so I really needed all the practice time I could get. The first night of orchestra rehearsal, I thought I was doing okay. Suddenly, the music director put down his baton, turned to me and asked, "Joannie, do you also teach your piano students not to count?" I laughed, knowing he was kidding (but kind of serious, too...it was true I wasn't doing it quite right). Well, there was a stunned silence among the rest of the players who were all students at the nearby university. It was as if they were all thinking to themselves, "I can't believe you would say such a thing to that lovely OLD woman!" Then, something interesting happened. A girl who was playing violin stood up and said, "We, the string section, think she's awesome!" All the people in the string section stood up. Then, a trumpet player followed suit, saying the brass section thought I was awesome, and all HIS cohorts stood up! Pretty soon, the entire orchestra was standing! Sooo, what else could I do but stand up and dramatically take a bow? We all laughed, sat down and continued rehearsing. It felt like the ice had been broken and it was a very productive first rehearsal. And, in the end, I MOSTLY got it right and all of us had lots of fun performing the work.

As a result of this, I think I have a great distinction in this world. I am probably the only one in the entire world who has ever gotten a standing ovation for incompetence! Now, THAT takes talent! And, it makes me think of our clients and their children...how many moments like this will they miss if the children are aborted? I wish I could proclaim to the world what great beauty there is to share within every one of our lives.