t’s time for another personal update because the last week has been such a whirlwind of sudden developments and surprises that I don’t even know which end is up right now. And suddenly, life is extremely different than I thought it would be right now! Don’t worry, it’s all good.
Many of you who read this blog may remember last year that I went through an agonizing six-month process of applying for, interviewing for, and getting turned down for a music director position at Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA. At the time, it seemed like a dream job, and it was one that I really wanted. However, in a close race between me and one other person, they ultimately chose the other person.
Fast forward about six months to June of this year, and I get an email from the guy they hired, asking if I would join him in playing for one of their shows that they were doing with two keyboards. I was surprised at how willing I was to do it, considering how disappointed I had been to not get the job in the first place. But my heart had healed, and I gladly decided to make it work. (It involved some negotiations with the University where I normally work during the school year because a handful of matinee shows would interfere with a commitment I had already made there.)
We made arrangements for how it would all work timewise, and Barter was kind enough to offer me a room to stay for those nights that I didn’t want to make the 90-minute drive back home after a late show (evening shows don’t start until around 8:00 PM). All seemed settled, and everything was fine. It would be fun to play a show there, and hey, the guy that took “my” job seemed really nice.
Then, about a week-and-a-half ago, he called me. It seemed that he had an assistant music director who is not real strong on the keyboard, and they were wondering if maybe I could start a bit earlier than expected and play for some rehearsals, too. Sure, why not? So I agreed to that.
And then Sunday a week ago came. A frantic email. The assistant music director had left town without telling anyone. Just cleaned out his room and left. He was supposed to be music directing a show on his own. They weren’t sure how they would cover everything. They would call me Monday with more info.
Monday came, and a phone call. Would I music direct the show the assistant was supposed to music direct instead of playing the show I was originally hired for? Or would I like to music direct the show I was originally hired to play and the music director would pick up the other show? I opted to just take the show the assistant had bailed on.
Now, it was looking more like two months of work instead of five weeks. That’s cool. But since it’s going to be more work than I had anticipated, maybe we should figure out a way for the whole family to be up there more.
So I googled “short term rentals Abingdon, VA” and contacted a place that specialized in fully-furnished rentals for short term use (i.e., corporate/business travelers).
And then Tuesday came. Another phone call, a new offer. Five months. Finish out the season. Music direct two shows, plus play in the original one I had been hired for, assist in other rehearsals, etc.
With a five-month contract, we definitely needed to find a place to stay up there. We’d only need to be here in Boone one or two days a week, but the rest of the time I’d be working up there, so it made sense for us all to be up there most of the time.
However, I was waiting on some income from work I had done several months ago — income that I didn’t expect to receive until late August. We would wait until those funds came in, and just try to get by with being apart some until then.
Tuesday afternoon, however, I had a meeting with the people for whom I had done that work. And much to my surprise, they handed me a check for the amount I was owed! We could rent a place right away!
Wednesday, I went up there for my first rehearsal, and we met with the agent I had contacted regarding a rental. We looked at two places, and the second one was perfect. Three bedroom, two bath, nice quiet location less than two miles from where I’d be working. It’s fully furnished, all utilities included, everything supplied including appliances, cookware, lawncare, internet access… Wow! And the price was within the range we had thought we could afford.
I went back for rehearsals Saturday and Sunday, and even though our lease was not to begin until today, the agent gave us a slightly smaller place to stay the night free of charge!
Today, we head back up there and will “move in” to our new place. We’ll continue to rent this house in Boone and will be here probably Sunday nights each week, and maybe Monday nights as well. But most of the week, we’ll be hanging out in beautiful and charming Abingdon, VA while I work for the theatre that once chose someone else over me.
It’s going to be a fun and action-packed five months. The music director is a great and fun guy, and we hit it off immediately. The theatre management told me that they had a very tough time deciding between him and me and now they feel like they have “the best of all worlds”. I don’t know about that, but I do know that I’m very happy to have this job!
And through all of this, I have been absolutely amazed at the way in which our Father worked out all the details in such rapid fashion. His provision has been timely and abundant, and the quickness with which all of this happened is amazing considering how many pieces needed to fit into the right place for everything to work.
I can still honor almost all of my commitments to the University throughout the semester, thanks to Barter’s eagerness to help work out a schedule that allowed that. And I get to provide for my family while doing what I love doing!
Soooo…I’m not sure when I’ll be able to post again as the next few weeks will be hectic in the whole transition, but you’re used to waiting for my posts anyway, aren’t you? 
At any rate, you now know what I’m doing while you’re waiting!
Until next time,
steve 
ere on the east coast of the US, it’s just minutes away from the start of Thanksgiving Day. I wanted to take a moment to just bullet point some of the things for which I am so very thankful right now:
any are familiar with sayings similar to, “It is not what a man does that measures his worth, but what he is.” And on several levels, that is true. However, Jesus also said that we would know people by “their fruit”. Fruit can be what a person is, but it also often manifests in what they do. So, what a man does really can be important in measuring his worth, right?
K, so I realize it’s been over three months…three months!…since I’ve posted here. And there are many reasons for that dry spell. I could make all kinds of excuses, but I won’t. I’ll just say that I’m back for this post, and who knows how long it will be until the next one! 
