Nancy Beach

Middle East Peace

     Once again we are hearing about peace talks for the Middle East, wondering, with perhaps a touch of skepticism, if there is any hope for lasting change this time around. 

     Last night my husband and I joined about 40 others at the home of Bill and Lynne Hybels, to engage in a dialogue and learning experience about the pursuit of peace and justice in the Holy Land.  Before the conversation, all had viewed the film Little Town of Bethlehem, a documentary film chronicling the story of 3 men who are pursuing a nonviolent solution to the struggle - a Muslim, a Palestinian Christian, and an Israeli Jew.  The film is on a tour to colleges and will be shown tonight at DePaul University in Chicago.

     Like many Evangelical Christians, I grew up with one narrative concerning the Holy Land - the Jewish people are the good guys and the Palestinians are the bad guys.  In recent years, my perspective has been challenged and it does not look so simple at all.  I believe we have a responsibility as Christians to enter into this complex situation with our best thinking and with fervent prayer. Rather than caving into pessimism regarding the peace talks, I want to embrace hope for change, one heart at a time. I commit to reading more about the issue, and seeking God's wisdom for what small part to play.  And I love being stretched in my world view!

The Joy of a New Adventure

     I've been spending many days this month in Toronto, as an Associate Producer on a television movie project titled "A Change of Plans."  What a blast to be immersed in this new world (for me) of creating a story for the screen.  What is NEW is learning the process, discovering some visual tricks of the trade, having to resist the incredibly delicious but fattening food available from the craft service all day long, thinking through a scene from various angles and looking ahead to the editing process.  After so many years invested primarily in the world of the local church, my adventure is stretching me and ushering in a wonderful sense of growth and vitality.

     And yet...there is so much that feels familiar. I look around at the crew - the sound guy named Rob, the costume designer named Judy, the art director named Ian, the line producer named Steve - and I think to myself - I KNOW THESE PEOPLE!  Ok, not that I know them specifically. But in so many ways, these artists are familiar to me. They may be working on a movie instead of a church service, but in so many ways they are wired they same. Focused on their craft, they are intense and a little quirky and really proud of the moments when their expertise contributes to a great collaboration.  The actors also remind me of the people I have come to know who use their gifts more in the spotlight. I'm inspired watching the gifts of Phylicia Rashad and Brooke White and others in action. But I am also reminded of singers and actors I deeply respect who are vulnerable with their art in front of folks every Sunday morning. 

     What I'm trying to say is that in the arts, whether it's for film, live theater, or church, the gifts we develop and instincts we grow can be applied across arenas more effectively than we may think. I may be the rookie on the set, but God has also equipped me more than I sometimes can see to make a contribution in this new place. I am grateful for that which feels so very new and different, along with that which feels like home, like a comfortable bathrobe and pair of slippers. I am among people I seem to understand and am growing to love, just like the folks I know and love at my local church. And I am still struck by the outrageous goodness of God.

Dusting Off An Old Dream

Last week I found myself on the set of a television movie, filming in Toronto. I was perched in one of those high-backed director's chairs with a role as a Producer. How did I get there? Why haven't I blogged in so long? Here's my story, and I'll try to keep it at least somewhat brief! And to anyone reading, thank you for your patience with my silence... I have been sensing for months that God was asking me to make room in my life for something - though I did not know what. While fulfilling all my already established commitments to the Willow Creek Association (where I have a part-time contract) and to my church, I sought the Lord to discern what the next season of my life might look like. I thought maybe this was all about simplifying things, time for more solitude and family and friends. All good...but was there something else? Then last April I came into contact with a group from Cincinnati called Front Porch Entertainment. Some of the key leaders are elders at Crossroads Community Church, and I knew them through the Willow Creek Association. This team feels called to create television movies with positive family values, programming that entire families can feel good watching together, particularly focused on moms and kids ages 10-14. Their first two-hour movie, "Secrets of the Mountain," aired in April on NBC and did quite well. Next year, it looks like it will spin into a regular series. Front Porch is aligned with Proctor and Gamble and Wal-Mart, as major funders who want to connect their products with uplifting programming. The more I interacted with these guys, the more I sensed a stirring in my spirit. I must explain that my education was in television, and my original dream was to become a producer of high quality programming, influenced by my Christian world view. In my mid-twenties, God re-directed my path to serve in the local church leading artists. The call was clear and unmistakable. I fought with God, wanting to pursue the media dream instead, but God asked me to trust Him. I have never regretted following the path into local church leadership. What an adventure and privilege! So now...almost 30 years later...God, in his OUTRAGEOUS GRACE has opened up an opportunity for me to revisit that long dormant vision. Front Porch has invited me into a leadership role with their many projects, on a contract basis. I am thrust into a new arena, learning every day, building new relationships, testing my artistic instincts, trying to be a bright light for God. The way I see it, God dusted off my old dream and said, "Here, in this season of your life you can taste what you originally longed for. Have fun!" I don't know how else to explain it. I feel like a little kid again, like it's the first day of school! I will continue, with passion and conviction, to contend that the local church is the hope of the world. And I will serve my own church and any other church whenever asked and however I can. But now I see that I can play a part in the shaping of media, leveraging the learnings of creating moments on Sunday morning and leading all kinds of artists. This too can make a difference of another kind... I have not been posting much, waiting for this decision to become official. Now I feel the freedom to let others know of my adventure, and to occasionally continue to reflect on what God is teaching me and what I am experiencing. I don't think my life matters any more than others, and I still find it odd that anyone might want to know how I'm doing or what I'm up to. But for those of you who have read my words in the last few years, thank you for this odd relationship we carry on, for your support and concern and your occasional comments. It means a great deal to me. Sunday I will head back to Toronto for another full week of filming. We are working with Brooke White as the lead actress (she was a contender in American Idol awhile back), along with a wonderful cast. As I sit in my fancy producer chair and try to make a contribution, I will be always aware of how grateful I am for a God who truly cares about the desires of our hearts. His goodness is breathtaking.