An Audience for our Audience

For the theatre people out there, I'm sure you know what I mean when I say, "out front."
For anyone who is not theatre material, out front is theatre lingo for 'the audience.'
"Know your audience," my father would always point out. The more he reminded me, the more evidence the was to back up what he said. Life is all about 'knowing your audience.' Everything you do involves people. If you work in a closed-off cubical in the corner of the building, you still have your boss to submit to, customers to e-mail, co-workers to socialize with. Everything you do involves people. Without them, life would be lonely and pointless. In fact, we are called to have an audience. The Old Testament refers many times to the fellowship offerings and 1 Corinthians 1:10 says, "I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought."
Everywhere we go, we see people and interact with them. The power of people is evident because community is crucial. We need each other, someone to relate to, someone to understand us. Loneliness is a major fear because we are wired to breathe amongst each other. We are wired to talk, listen, understand, and cope with each other.
Have you ever worked with someone, or been around someone you just wish was not in your life; then they go and you miss them? Sometimes that happens to me. Then, when the person is no longer in my life (for any reason), I miss them. I wonder why. Why do I miss that person? I think.
Then it dawns on me. I miss them because, in some way or another, they contributed to me being in fellowship with someone. I miss them because they made a difference in my life, whether it be positive or negative, good or bad. This brings on the idea of one making a difference for another, whether intentionally or by accident. To be safe, say you are the annoying person. Somehow, you made a difference in the life of the person you annoy. "Making a difference" seems to always have a positive connotation, doesn't it? But should it? If a man bumped into you, making you spill your recently bought coffee and scorching you, and walked away without apologizing, he would have made a significant difference in the way you thought, felt, and even behaved that day. Sure, it is negative, but it still involves making a difference.
The fact is, we yearn for fellowship with each other because we make a difference in each others' lives. You have a chance to be influenced or be the influencer. Your day has the possibility of making a difference (hopefully good) in someone's life - the same being said about that 'person' making an difference in your day.
We all want that. We are all inspired by that. We look in the mirror and tilt our chin up, saying, "I am the difference-maker." Yet, our soul quietly whispers, "I hope someone changes the course of my life."
Yes, we all have an audience. This audience is the people around us, the people we work with, the students we teach. Your audience is the line of customers you are about to serve. You are the host to those willing to listen to your story. You have an audience.
But, even if you lived in a boarded house that refuses anyone dying to interact with you (or make a 'difference' in your day), you still must interact with those around you. It is a necessity. You want food? Cash deposit? Car wash? I'm sorry, but you will have to let someone know so they can help you. Gru, from Despicable Me, cannot escape a social lifestyle. Sanctus Real sings about the lifestyle we need.
True. We need each other, but I believe we were not just given an audience for the sake of fellowship. Proverbs 29:26 makes it clear that men seek an audience with a ruler, but only the Lord provides the justice. See, we look for people to be our audience so often, and to a degree, they are. We are called to be salt and light, so our audience certainly is the world around us. I do believe our audience of the world is part of the picture, but there is more.
We have an Audience of One.
Maybe that is just it. Our worldly-inhabitance provides us a social network with no extra charge, but this social exchange with the world might be a reminder of the social interaction we are made to have with the Father. We need Him like we need our fellow human friends to sell food at a good price, deposit our paychecks, and give our vehicles a good scrub. Our sincere desire to have an audience is predicated by our desire to be in a relationship with God the Father.
To take it a step further, Jesus tells the Devil, "worship the Lord your God and serve him only." He is our audience, and we are to serve him faithfully. Yet, we should know our worldly audience for our Audience of One. We should come to know who we are serving and serve them for God.
Bluntly speaking, let your light shine among others, but let it shine among others for God's glory and honor. You are to serve men for God. Therefore, you have two audiences, but your main focus is your Audience of One.
Timo, from the Hollywood Hit, Coach Carter, sums it up perfectly: "And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." God provides the wattage, we turn on the light, and we serve others for His glory.
We can show people Christ's love as servants of Christ.
The world is your stage. So, "your on set," as they say.
"Out front, out front!"