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The World is a Stage

Oh, Bill Shakespeare, you really called it like you see it, didn't you? Perhaps you reflected life in your art. I'll agree with that much. However, I am quite sure that as much as you saw life as it is, you did not see life as it should be.

Yet people seem to accept your words as gospel truth. That could be due to your plays sounding like the King James version of a particular Holy Book. But just because your plays contain thee's, thou's and verily's does not make them equal to the Bible.

Take, for instance, your words that the world was a stage and that we are merely players. Many people may recognize that they are words from a play, but we live like they are gospel truth. For if the world is indeed a stage, then isn't somebody looking for someone to play the lead role?

Why shouldn't that person be me?

Ironically, the famous line comes from Shakespeare's play titled As You Like It. I believe that a starring role is just what we would like. This seems to be the way the world operates. Sadly, it is often brought into the Church as well. But it's certainly not a new thing.

Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding. When you do something for someone else, don't call attention to yourself. You've seen them in action, I'm sure—'playactors' I call them— treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that's all they get. When you help someone out, don't think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out. ~Matthew 6:1-4, The Message


The truth of our Jesus-following life is meant to be lived inside and out. The world is not a stage. We are not actors. But one way we live this out is with our inner monologue. You know, the diatribe you'd like to use on someone who rubs you the wrong way. Or perhaps it comes out in the many details you share with everyone about everything. Facebook, anyone?

According to Jesus, working behind the scenes should be our goal. The good things still need to be done, to be sure. But perhaps not in a way that seeks the applause of people.

So tell me, have you ever realized you were in the middle of a monologue? Did the monologue get spoken out loud?
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