by Allison Morgan
What a talent show! We saw it all – song, dance, jump rope, and even Jedi basketball. (Jedi basketball? Completely normal, right?! It fit right in at the Reality talent show!)
I’ve had the privilege of being immersed in the world of Reality Ministries this past year. Working full-time as an intern last summer and continuing part-time throughout the school year, I’ve had the joy of participating in this unique and beautiful community.
Even after being enfolded in the Reality community each week, I can say there’s nothing quite like the talent show. I attended the show last April and was blown away by the turnout and obvious support present within the community. The talent show is a tiny glimpse of the Kingdom of God, a holy place where God’s presence is palpable.
This year, I had the chance to learn more about the planning process and even be in an act! I learned that because of the sheer number of people who want to participate, some performers have to be flexible with what they do in the show (hence, the creative Jedi basketball combo act!)
Nishonda was one such performer. She had hoped to dance to a Michael Jackson song but ended up in my group instead, dancing to a mashup of MC Hammer’s “Can’t Touch This” and the cheer from the movie Bring It On. Needless to say, she was disappointed. We incorporated Michael Jackson dance moves into our choreography and encouraged Nishonda to participate, but she mostly kept to herself during rehearsals, not wanting to join in.
Nishonda’s dance partner for the act was Amy, who did a great job helping Nishonda learn the choreography. As rehearsals continued, Nishonda seemed to enjoy herself more, always joining in when we got to the Michael Jackson moves, but not dancing in the rest.
The big day finally arrived, and all the performers were very excited. After adorning our shoes with light up laces (so fun!), we hit the stage. To my surprise, Nishonda performed every move of the dance and beamed the entire time! Nishonda’s sweet friendship with Amy and the encouragement from the rest of the group turned a disappointing experience into a beautiful expression of joy.
This is the Reality way. Being part of a community that is real and deep offers countless occasions for holy joy, from disappointing moments to silly ones. If you were able to come to the talent show, I hope you experienced this holy joy. If you weren’t there, I’m certain you’ll see holy joy in these pictures. Either way, I hope you find more ways to participate in the Reality community, in all its wide and deep and beautiful glory that reflects the Kingdom of God in our midst.