Getting the audition

For the performing artist, getting the job isn't always the biggest problem in a career. Sometimes it seems that simply getting the audition - getting seen by the right person - which in turn leads to getting the job, is more difficult. If you're a performer, or even if you're not and the audition is simply a metaphor for some challenging first step in your career, there is an effective way of dealing with this challenge: prayer to God, who is the one Mind and Soul.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes, ''Desire is prayer; and no loss can occur from trusting God with our desires, that they may be moulded and exalted before they take form in words and in deeds.'' n1 As we trust God with our desires, He purifies and enriches our abilities and transforms our motives. We may well find that instead of worrying about getting an audition, we're more interested in giving all we have to offer.

n1 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 1.

Prayer in this light is not - definitely not - asking the Almighty to give us a break while He withholds it from someone else. It is realizing something of His ever-present, caring nature. And perceiving that He governs His whole creation and provides for everyone in it. Prayer is not human thought controlling human experience. It is a yielding to the directing of divine Mind, God. It is acknowledging the blessings bestowed by Mind, by Soul.

From a spiritual point of view, there is no competition. Each of us is the unique expression of Soul. The gifts of the performing artist, or of anyone, have a spiritual basis. Precision, grace, brilliance, and so on may be expressed by an individual. But such qualities are derived from God. Like a kaleidoscope that uses the same chips of colored glass to form widely different but beautiful patterns, God expresses the same qualities in each of us, but always in wonderfully individual ways. What you have to offer is uniquely yours to give.

It is these gifts from God that are really in demand. As we identify ourselves with them, we'll find that what we have to offer is in demand. Following God's guidance and seeing our gifts as deriving from Soul, we'll find that barriers begin to clear out of the way. The Bible says, ''A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.'' n2

n2 Proverbs 18:16.

Now, it may be that our gift needs to be nurtured, to be cherished. And that may take the form of classes and training. As these efforts are underpinned by a desire to bring spiritual qualities to the front, to let our unhindered selfhood as the expression of Soul shine forth, our abilities will multiply. Not unlike the servant in Christ Jesus' parable - whose five talents when put to use became ten n3 - we'll find our gifts increasing. And those enlarged gifts will bring us into the right place, before the right individual, at the right time.

n3 See Matthew 25:16.

Christian Science, a religion whose teachings follow the Scriptures, helpfully enlightens for us the nature of God's direction and guidance. God may not tell us specifically to drive to Louisville so someone there will listen to the wonderful speech we've prepared. He may not tell us specifically to call a certain casting director at 10:15 Tuesday morning. But He certainly does give us the wisdom and understanding to make the right decisions. He does mold and exalt our desires ''before they take form in words and in deeds.'' And He does bestow on us the gifts that are in demand. Our part is to understandingly and obediently listen for God's directing. Then, whether we reason out logically what makes the most sense - using our God-bestowed ability to do so - or simply feel impelled by the one Mind to take a particular step, we're drawing on His guidance. And our moves will be effective.

Mrs. Eddy writes, ''God is the fountain of light, and He illumines one's way when one is obedient.'' She continues farther along, ''Be sure that God directs your way; then, hasten to follow under every circumstance.'' n4

n4 Miscellaneous Writings, p. 117.

The talent you have is a gift from God and is worthy of cherishing. As you recognize and value it as such, the gift itself will make room for you. DAILY BIBLE VERSE For ever, O Lord, they word is settled in heaven. . . . Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. . . . Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies. Psalms 119:89, 105, 124, 125