I am a crazy theatre kid. I've loved being on the stage, or the center of attention, for as long as I can remember. It wasn't hard for me to go to a new school, as I was excited to be the focus for the day and have someone show me around and accompany me so I wasn't alone. As a theatre-lover, I always thought that I was destined for the stage and be the focus of what an audience was viewing. Over the past year, I have auditioned for three shows and have not been cast in one. Instead, I have had the opportunity to take care of the show's props, direct, and stage manage. Having these technical jobs made me really take a different look on life, not just in drama.
I'm going to make a general assumption that the majority of you reading this have heard the song "This Little Light of Mine" at least once in your life. I'd say I've heard or sang it a million times. This song talks about keeping your light shining even when you are troubled. But one thing it leaves out is shining even when you aren't in the view of anyone. You can, and should, shine your light even when no one can see you. Being a light shouldn't be because you want to impress someone or look good for someone. Shining that light should always be happening.
In almost every aspect of life there is a center of attention. You have your singers in a concert, your actors in a show, your authors of a book, and your quarterback of a football team. If you aren't in that specific role, it's hard to be happy and feel important with what you are doing. By sulking, you ignore the fact that you play an equally important role in putting on a show (or playing a game, however you want to think of it). Without your role, the final production won't be the same. You make it better in a way that no one other than you could.
This also applies to ministry. It may not be the same for you, but the majority of people I talk to who have a call from God feel that their call is to go into ministry and go to other countries and minister to places that have never heard of God. If they don't feel called to devote their life to ministry, chances are they've had the opportunity to go overseas and serve somewhere. I, on the other hand, have not. I know that I am not even 15 years old and have a long time to be able to experience something like that, but part of me gets jealous. I want to go out and drastically change people's lives for the better and have that experience.
The thing is if everyone left to preach somewhere else, who would stay behind and help those right next to you? Staying in one place and helping those directly around you can be just as influential as helping those miles away. You don't have to be under the spotlight or overseas to have a purpose and make a difference, you just go where you can do exactly that; make a difference. You have a special gift that you can put to use right where you're put. Don't try and go somewhere else just because it sounds 'cool'. You will be put where you need to be and where you can be, even if it turns out to be a place you never expected.