Preparation is the key

 My friend Smiley has become involved in the theater this year. She's in the chorus of "Oklahoma!" which, having paid my $28 for a ticket, is honestly one of the best shows I've seen. The cast has put in a lifetime of practice and the performance is completely polished and professional. I am so proud of her for having the guts to front up to the initial auditions on her own and dedicate herself to practice after (long) practice. Naturally, I've been keen to muscle in on the action and I just love how God prepared me for my role in showbiz.

Over the last school holidays I became and Extreme Ironist.

Every school holidays, I seem to get overtaken by a new obsession which tends to lead to unusual behaviours such as decapitating baby dolls and wearing gelatine in my hair - but that's a whole other post for my "quirky" blog. This time it was something I've spent the last four (plus!) decades of my life avoiding with a vengeance. I have always despised ironing. Heck, I don't think I even knew how to hold the thing. Then I watched R ironing in front of her telly, my friend at school "Spiffy" had a clothing swap party, I cleared out my wardrobe...one thing led to another and the next thing you know I'd bought an iron, a clothing stand, TWO ironing boards and about fifty coat hangers.  I was hooked and spent about ten days ironing with passion and fervor.

Meanwhile, there was a whisper from Smiley that a wardrobe assistant was needed backstage to help with COSTUMES (did I ever mention that I have a slight penchant for dress ups?).  Just as I was getting carried away in some fantasy land where it rained sequins, Smiley reminded me that in Oklahoma they wear a lot of denim and gingham.  It also turns out that wardrobe assistants get to hang around in the freezing backstage area with an ironing board, pressing the aforementioned gingham frocks whilst making slightly inappropriate comments to half-naked school boys who really do look a lot older than they should.  Oh yes. I am a Bohemian-type theater person now - who irons.

Don't you just love how God provides and prepares as He gets us ready for jobs that need to be done?