How did the Secret Lives of the Divine come about?
I was involved in several productions as an actor where the material wasn't what I wanted to be performing. The humor was low-brow, scenes were often violent, pointless, or lacking a high standard of meaningful and truly funny entertainment. I wanted to give audiences something uplifting and inspirational along with being funny and entertaining. I wanted people to walk out of the theater feeling better about themselves and their place in the world. The Secret Lives of the Divine came out of this aspiration. The show really wrote itself. Whenever I have put the performance away for a period of time and then picked it back up, it still inspires me. I learn new things from performing it each time. The show has a life of its own. I figure that this is a good sign. And audiences keep reacting well to it, feeling inspired by it, and leave feeling like something really amazing just happened for them.
Why write about spiritual experience?
Because it's the most important thing in my life, frankly. It guides everything else in my life and it's what makes my day to day experiences so vibrant and alive.
Are you some kind of bible thumper?
(laughter) No, no. It's not that kind of a spiritual life for me. I grew up with an eclectic array of spiritual experiences. My direct religious lineage is Lutheran and my family and I attended the Lutheran Church until I was about 8 or 9. Then my parents switched us over to the Methodist Church. I remember the pastors at the Methodist Church were a husband and wife team that were hippies from the 60's. They used to sing folk songs in church - it was so much fun! I loved those guys. We stayed in that church until my adolescent years when my parents switched us over to Robert Schuller's Hour of Power. Our whole family, for better or worse, became Positive Thinkers! I can still quote Robert Schuller Sr.'s closing message. I have very clear memories of my mom always sitting at the kitchen table reading spiritual material of one kind or another while my dad would be in his reading chair in the living room reading the Bible. They both are authentic seekers, each with their own way of approaching Higher Consciousness. I think this rubbed off on me. I had the realization that there wasn't just one way or one path to follow. I've always been interested in the Truth, but more than that, I am interested in how to really live the Truth. That question is so alive for me!
So how do you really "live the Truth"?
Well isn't that the ever-present question?! I've been asking myself that on a daily basis, if not hourly (laughter). It took me a while to remember that I have this natural sense of humor several people in my family seem to have - my dad and my brother. And I started noticing that when it came out naturally in conversation, people could relax a little, have a good laugh, and touch on the Reality of themselves - their Truth, so to speak. This seemed to be a gift that was given to me, not something that I made happen. I started to realize that I had a responsibility to use it, and use it in service to others. I coupled it with my love of studying spirituality and the human condition and realized that we can all benefit from laughing gently at ourselves and the ridiculousness of some of the things we do as humans. And Wha-la! Out of all of that came the script for The Secret Lives of the Divine.
Why do you offer the show up as benefit for community organizations?
It's part of the service aspect of myself. I feel moved to do the show in this way because it helps myself and communities in several ways. First, it is an easy and entertaining way for a community organization to raise money and awareness. It also easier for me to walk into a room full of people that have come to a fundraising event. Think about it. People are generally in a generous and giving mood when they attend a fundraiser. It's a great vibe to perform in. The performance itself tends to open people's hearts and shake loose tension in the body through the laughter and joy they experience. It's a win-win on all accounts. The show is meant for this kind of venue. It's the way that It wants to be performed. I call it and "It" with a capital "I" because It - the show - has a life of It's own. I do what It wants me to do and It wants me to perform it in venues that can benefit helpful community organizations. The third reason the show is done in this way is because I meet the most interesting, wonderful, open-hearted people this way. Life doesn't get better than this!
What do you want people to remember most about the work that you do?
It comes from the heart and from a deep felt aspiration to uphold a Higher Good. And within this, to realize and have a gentle sense of humor about our humanity. We are wacky beings living in a crazy and sometimes dark world doing the best we can in each moment. My practice is to be a humorous and meaningful Light along the way.
Any new performance pieces percolating?
I am currently working on a show sheduled for May 2011 called One Girl's Guide to Serving the Galaxy: One Choice at a Time as well as a show entitled My Life as a Farmer: The Dirty Girl's Dream Job due out in the Spring of 2012.