A New York Easter!

Hey all! I'm blogging from our hotel St. James on 46th and Broadway here in New York. We've walked around all day long since yesterday morning, so needless to say, we're very tired.

I've been worrying for the longest time about how we're going to fill our seats for the shows we're performing. We've got one show this Tuesday at 9:30 pm at the People's Improv Theater, and another show at Gotham Comedy Club this Thursday at 6 pm. Both clubs have contacted me asking how many people we expect to come, because, so far, not many people have gotten any tickets for our shows.

This has been stressful. I've been reduced to tears thinking about the people breathing down my neck for these two shows, but today was Easter. And by the end of today, I feel completely different.

We had a fireside today by George Nelson at the chapel in downtown Manhattan. It's in the same building as the temple and was completely awesome to attend in the middle of New York City.

One of our advisors in Divine Comedy from BYU's theater department. He talked about the parable of the unjust steward that Christ talked about in Luke 16. In it, the steward tricks his master to fix his situation when he lost his job. The scriptures then say:


And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.


Now, why would the Lord commend the unjust steward? We talked about how those who are focused on this world and this life are more prepared and wise about their life plans than the plans we make for our eternal future. The Lord then says: And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness.


Now, what does this mean? It's the whole "Be in the world but not of it" idea. We can learn so much from those around us. There is much beauty in the world and we can find it and expand upon it, illuminating it with the light we have from the gospel.


This thing that we're doing, this comedy group, is a way we can spread light and truth to all the world.


This is when everything changed for me. I've been so worried about pleasing these big guys who are housing our shows, when really I need to focus on those who can gain light and truth from seeing our clean, uplifting comedy. If I keep focusing on that instead of our comedy club owners, I know that the Lord will provide. He will help His work go forth and as long as we're aiding in this work, we will be successful. Even if there's only one person in the audience, if it's someone who needs to see us, that's all I care about.


And so, on the way home, I looked at everything with a fresh pair of eyes. Instead of being nervous and awkward when confronted with such a foreign place, I saw all my brothers and sisters who I  can serve and help in my own way. It was wonderful to see the world a little bit the way the Savior sees the world.


I love New York. (: