On Eagles’ Wings

For a long time it was on my heart to be in a musical. I would dream of maybe one day being able to act, but I didn’t know how I’d ever get an opportunity. I settled with doing small, simple plays with a few family members or friends. It seemed that Yehovah’s will was for me to stick with those little shows, but the desire to be on a real stage doing a real show still burned within me. I did not know when Yehovah would want to do anything with that desire, and thought it might just be a fleshly desire that was not from Him.

But as the years went by, I realized that the desire was from Him. In 2018, I felt Him urge me to write a musical, and I obeyed, writing a script entitled The Maid of Morristown Manor. He helped me and gave me songs and music. I was certain that His hand was behind this musical.

But when it was being edited, serious flaws became obvious. It was not good enough for the stage. Furthermore, we did not have enough actors. I became discouraged, wondering if Yehovah had any plan for my failed musical, and why He had helped me write it if it was simply to be thrown in the trash. But then I felt a peace inside. It was as if the Father was telling me that it was fine that The Maid of Morristown Manor had flunked–that He was not done working.

The year before I wrote The Maid, my sister Amy Grace felt Yehovah prompting her to write songs for a musical based on the Exodus from Egypt. She wrote “Be Still, My Child,” “In Days Gone By,” and “Someone Knows My Name.” Just like my musical, though, it became obvious that the plans in her head were not able to come to reality. Some songs were incomplete, she never wrote a script, and, once again, there was no way that we would find enough actors. Amy Grace didn’t care that her musical would never happen; she didn’t have any inner fire compelling her to act. But I did. I would tell her that her songs were special and something should be done with them, yet her songs were to lie dormant for years.

On June 21, 2020, the time of waiting, wondering, and dormancy was over. On that day, I told Amy Grace that I was tired of her doing nothing with her beautiful half-finished songs. I wanted to write a musical about the Exodus, and asked her for permission to finish and use her songs. She agreed. That day I started writing the script for a new musical, feeling Yehovah compelling me.

The next few months were a lot of work. Yehovah helped me as I wrote the songs, plot, and script. I would marvel as rhymes and words flowed out of my brain so seamlessly. I knew that the words were from Him. Not once did I encounter writer’s block. He was giving me music to play and a story to tell. And one day Yehovah suddenly gave me the title for my musical: On Eagles’ Wings. I tried not to put many characters in the musical, hoping to make it feasible for performance, as I did not know many people who were willing to act.

It just so happened that during this time, Yehovah began suddenly placing people in our lives. I did not know that these new friends would one day become the cast members, but Yehovah did. He was orchestrating everything.

With every passing week, I became more convinced that On Eagles’ Wings was Yehovah’s work. It became obvious that He wanted us to perform this musical and had given me the inner flame for that purpose. “Shall You take our wildest dreams and truly form them into fact?” I wrote into the musical script, as I watched Yehovah change my musical from a far-out dream into a soon-coming reality.

Then I realized why Yehovah’s hand had been so evident in the two musicals that had never come to fruition. Those two musicals were crucial stepping stones that prepared us for On Eagles’ Wings. Amy Grace’s musical was the birthplace of multiple songs and The Maid was where I learned invaluable lessons about script format and editing.

In December, auditions for the musical were held. When I began to worry that we would not find enough actors, I was reminded of all that Yehovah had done, and trusted that He would continue to work. Auditions turned out to be amazing, and I found all the actors I needed! I couldn’t believe how many people were willing to audition.

The next few months became a busy blur. I finished the script in January and soon got it edited, which was tough, but Yehovah would not let me give up. Then in February, practices began. It is hard to explain exactly what it was like for me to see the musical come to the practice stage. Those days were answered prayers.

My siblings and I also had so much work to do on the music for the show. In my opinion, that was the biggest job. We had to record, rerecord, and piece together music so many times. Thanks to Yehovah, I had some amazing musicians and helpers who were there for me on that journey. Yehovah sustained us through all the hard work.

Finally we secured a venue. The first time I went to the venue I was taken by its beauty and amazed at Yehovah’s provision. The Silver Chapel had such wonderful acoustics that none of the actors needed microphones during the performance.

Practices, hard work, and costume designing continued without stop. The cast was so gracious and patient with me and my family as we worked to bring this musical to fruition. Everything fell into place. This amazing experience was a marvelous example of how the physical and spiritual work together. We did the physical work; Yehovah did the spiritual work. Here is a brief list of some amazing things Yehovah did that I have not already mentioned.

• He helped my sister Rose write the song “He is My Peace.”
• He gave us a venue in the middle of COVID-19.
• He gave us a practice stage in Piedmont, AL.
• He helped us find a sound man.
• He gave many people willing hearts and able hands to help with the work.
• He helped us find all of the props we needed.
• About two months before the show, the actress for Avdah (the main character) and the actor for Leah switched characters and the transition was smooth.
• He gave my brother the time and ability to do hours of acting, recording, and digital mastering.
• He stopped all my stage fright on performance night.
• He helped us find a videographer.
• He allowed the Silver Chapel to get a new sound system before our performance.
• There was a 12-hour storm right between two crucial practices the final week.
• He made the weather so lovely that heat or AC (which would have been too noisy for the audience) was not needed on that day.

On March 21, 2021, nine months to the day after I wrote the first words of the script, the musical was performed. It was an amazing night, with seventy people in attendance. So many people said that they were amazed, but I was more amazed than they were–amazed that the King of all Creation would use me in such a way and let my dreams come true. I keep saying how it was Yehovah who made that night amazing. We are humbled by Him.

Here is the link to the video of that night. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAVrPty6uLc
Below is our theme verse.

“Now to Him who is able to do all things exceedingly above what we ask or think, according to the power working in us, to Him be the glory in the church in Messiah Yeshua to all the generations forever and ever. Amen.”
-Ephesians 3:20-21