Something about that Name

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20

When you hear the word church, you often associate it as a noun and being a structure or building for public Christian worship. My pastor in Atlanta, Michael Youseff refers to his two thousand plus congregation, Church. Not the fours walls and steeple but the people. I refer to church as being whenever and wherever I talk about the Lord to people. In fact just yesterday, me along with two unsuspecting actors braving the Brooklyn Bridge wind tunnel, came together with one name on our shivering lips. Jesus Christ. 

Now working as a background blur on popular television shows is nothing short of a fantastic trip. I say this with all sincerity. For one thing, variety. Its different every single day, you never know what location in which they're shooting, nor what church catacombs you will be held in (seriously, holding has been in four churches), or what personality you will be portraying. While you're making $100 a day, your in the same scenes with the stars making $450K an episode...

Secondly, a life of an extra is a bizarre underworld of the most dynamic, obnoxious, fascinating, talented, sub-par, disgraceful, and interesting characters you will ever find. From a 300 lb bald retired FDNY to an Hasidic Jew from Hoboken, the gang's all there.

 And you're stuck together for hours at a time, watching each other change wardrobes, set in scenes you are incessantly repeating.  Everyone is jumping their cues chasing the camera, on their feet for hours, praying for fame, and just trying to make a living. This is NOT under any circumstances for everyone. But for those of us who it is, WE thrive in it.

Standing between two gentleman in a City Hall courtyard portraying very important District Attorney's, I found two more believers in the Big Apple. The antithesis of one another. Preacher, a Jersey born raw in your face biker from Daytona to Sturges sporting a fu manchu preaching the word of the Lord to federal prisoners with a mouth like a sailor. He knows he' s saved by Grace. Michael, a charming clean cut tall drink of water southerner who has been in musical theater and performance as long as he can remember (including my favorite Opryland) also spoke of his strong faith in our Lord and Savior. There we were on camera revealing our hearts and discussing the power of Jesus in our lives,surrounded by the holy spirit. A non-secular Law and Order... I found this just astounding... and just another day at the office.

Somethin tells me
Its all happening at the zoo.

The monkeys stand for honesty,
Giraffes are insincere,
And the elephants are kindly but dumb.
Orangutans are skeptical
Of changes in their cages,
And the zookeeper is very fond of rum.. Simon and Garfunkel

Be it cage or cubicle, are you singing your song?