I thought that might get your attention! I swear it's the truth!! So a few years ago, our other Ward put on the Ten Virgins Parable play. When speaking with my friend, who was the director, she was telling me it was hard to find 10 people to sing. I was shocked, knowing that there was definitely enough talent in the ward for that . She said that people were just not willing to do it. I told her, "Well that's ridiculous! I totally would have done it if you would have called me. " Of course, that was easy to say because it was already over and they didn't need me.
Well, here we are two years later and the phone rings in the middle of the day. It's one of my friends calling to ask me if I can sing in the 10 Virgin's Parable play for our Ward. My mind instantly flashed to that conversation I had two years ago. I knew I couldn't be a hypocrite and tell her no. I did inform her that I hadn't sung a solo since I was in the 7th grade, and she told me that was alright because it was a duet. I felt a little better, but was still a little panicked when I hung up. I decided that I would survive, and I definitely wouldn't be telling anyone about it! 
That Sunday, the choir director hands me my sheet music to practice, and my lines to memorize. First of all, I didn't know I would have to be memorizing any lines, so I was instantly running all the things, I had on my plate, over and over in my head and wondering how memorizing lines was going to fit in with that. Then I look at the sheet music to find that my singing part was basically a solo. I just joined someone else on the last verse at the end of their part. When I finally got a chance to practice, I realized that the song was an alto part. I'm a Soprano!! At that point, I decided that all I could do was practice, and pray.
I did practice!! It was on my To Do list to practice the song at least once a day. They gave us a CD to practice with. Whenever I could tear Sophia away from her Strawberry Shortcake movie in the car (her new favorite), I would practice. Her and Aubrie actually have the words down. Of course, when you don't have the singer on the CD singing behind you, you realize you aren't as good as you thought you were.
At my first practice, a week before the performance, they also assigned me a solo part in the the last group song. That was another thing I had to practice and memorize. The week of the performance I still hadn't practiced or memorized my lines. I had so much going on, I hadn't had the time. I had planned on going over them while I was on the elliptical, but I had a change in my workout program, so that never happened. I didn't want to have to rely on a cheat sheet, that we were given permission to use. I said a prayer that the words would come to me, and that I would be able to deliver them in a manner that I was like the character I was supposed to portray. I started practicing my lines and something amazing happened. As I went over them, it was like I could just see the lines in my head the way they were on my paper. I was able to memorize them quickly! I'm not the best at memorizing. It took me 5 weeks to memorize the Living Christ. That was going over it every night for about 20 minutes. I always get hung up on little words. But this just came to me. I really feel like I was blessed to memorize the things I needed to.
At dress rehearsal I was a little intimidated by the microphone and I blanked on one of my lines. I made a SMALL cheat sheet, because I knew that would help me be less nervous, but I never used it for the performance. When I was up there, I really felt like I was that girl. I just blocked out all the audience and focused on the Savior. It was a great experience. The singing wasn't the best I had done during practice, but I prayed before that as long as the message got across and I didn't mess up bad enough to distract from the spirit that needed to be felt, I would be alright. It was good enough!
After it was all done, I celebrated in the hall ,with the others, that it was finally over! Later, I was suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity I had to do it. I was grateful for the opportunity to form new friendships, and strengthen old ones. I was thankful that the Lord PUSHED me in to using a talent I have long ago left by the wayside. Most of all I am grateful for the Spiritual lift it gave me. Practicing and thinking about my songs filled my lamp! As I practiced my songs and lines, I felt the spirit and was taught by him. I wanted to make sure I was the Virgin I was portraying; One who went to the Savior everyday, so she could become more like him. One who is loyal, and does not gossip, but only speaks kindly of others. One who weathers rough times with his help. One who wants to follow in Christ's footsteps, so she can be ready for when He comes again. One who makes sure she fills her lamp every day. If you can't tell, those were some of my lyrics. Those lyrics are stuck in my head, still, and remind me of who I want to be on a daily basis. I know Heavenly Father knows what we need, even if we don't think we do! I'm grateful for the conversation 2 years ago, that got me to say YES to this now!
