Joy shares snapshots from conversations at a cast party

Joy Attmore

I was recently at the cast party for a theatre show in New York, enjoying the free buffet and talking to various members of the cast. I find these events both enjoyable and tiring; meeting lots of new people, navigating through small talk to find a gem of commonality and smiling constantly no matter how tired you are! My fiancé had been playing one of the principle roles in the show so I found myself being introduced to countless new faces throughout the evening. There were two individuals who stood out to me the most though.

The first was a lady, probably in her late 50's, very well presented and clearly used to the higher end of society. After the initial introductions she suddenly declared that she needed my help with problems that she had come up against in her workplace with discrimination because she is a woman. I wasn't entirely sure how I was meant to help her in this instance, as I have no experience in this area, but she seemed to think that I did, so I found myself suddenly hearing all of her recent battles of social injustice.

On the surface this conversation could easily be written off as a tirade from a potentially eccentric lady whose clearly spent a lot of time around people in the industry; however as I stood holding my glass of iced water and trying to engage in her story, I saw a woman who was grappling to keep hold of her worth and trying to find security for herself in social status.

I realised then that these parties aren't always just about celebrating with your friends and family the success of a show, but they also become about showing others where you stand on the measuring line of worth.

We all want to place well. We all want to be noticed, appreciated, loved and respected.

The second conversation that held my attention was with a beautiful lady who is currently in a Broadway show and understudy to a principle role. As we chatted through the evening she shared with me some of her story and the current dilemmas that she's facing. Her story really touched my heart as it became obvious how much she was crying out for value and worth. On the outside you'd think that she had it made, being young, beautiful, and talented and with growing success in the industry; but when it came down to it she didn't know her own worth.

These are snapshots of two people's lives that have so much success in the world's eyes but are still looking for more; still seeking worth.

I've been that person before now too and some days I still am, but I found what I'm really worth and rather than rejecting it took hold of it as truth. There are those days where I have to remind myself several times that it is true, but that foundation of truth has been laid. I don't need to know all the right people, have all the right things and be in all the coolest places to know that I am full of worth and am priceless.

Over and over God has re-established his love and value of me:

'Since you are precious and honoured in my sight and because I love you...'
Isaiah 43:4

'I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful I know that full well.'
Psalm 139:14

'For God so loved the world...'
John 3:16

These words are but a glimpse of the worth that God pours out on us, they are but a taste of his love for us. As I talked to both of these women I felt the burning desire for them to know the truth...that they are worth so much!

We can find ourselves in these windows of time where we have the opportunity to pour the truth into people and also receive it ourselves. Those moments can appear in the most unlikely places but the world is hungry for worth...for truth...for love and it's not exclusive to any one section of society.