This is a battle scene from the epic 1959 film “Ben-Hur”. The battle was intense and so well recreated that seated across from my television screen I could almost smell the burning wood, the heaviness in the air, the musky smell of sweat, the salt spray and the splash of blood. Seated on my couch I could sense the gusto of each man as wielded his sword, the desperation of the moment, the fear in each man’s heart, the anguish as the many lay dying.
Here is the the interesting part, not a single one of these people creating this life-like scene or evoking such strong emotions within me were the main cast. They were all merely supporting cast and “extras” in this epic movie. The main actor, in the meantime, the legendary Charlton Heston aka “Judah Ben-Hur” was at his oar in the bottom of the ship, rowing alongside many other oarsman. The scene was being set for his ensuing appearance.
It’s only recently that I started to pay close attention to the “Extras” whenever I watch a movie. I have started to note, with keen interest, their role in creating the landscape for the film to unfold convincingly. Behind the most legendary of actors and acting performances are a whole bunch of small-time, unknown, struggling “extras” who set the scene and breathe life into the full colour images that really make a movie come alive.
Life’s a bit like this. Some of us set the scene while someone else gets the main part. Some of us have one line to deliver – we are dedicated, we are sincere, we pour our hearts into it, we deliver it with skill, heart and flair. We then leave – unacknowledged and unknown, questioning our intrinsic worth. Maybe we don’t encounter this everyday but even the best of us have felt the sting of being an “Extra” in life.
I’m almost never the Star in my “Life” movie. This morning, as he often does, my toddler threw a loud tantrum, thumping on the bathroom door at my audacity to visit the bathroom without his permission and blessing. If this was a movie, he would’ve been the star. The cameras swirling around him capturing his every move and expression. I on the other hand would have been given a seconds long cameo to show me flustered and nervously fumbling with the roll of toilet paper. It takes a bit of imagination but really, would it make for intense viewing if the main actor was throwing a fit, breaking down the door to an empty bathroom? In my humble opinion, no. There just has to be someone inside the bathroom. This is of course the smallest and most insignificant amongst the many different scenarios that life rolls out for us.
I believe that “Life” at large has a plot much bigger than ourselves. I believe in a God who, like any gifted director, works towards a finished masterpiece. We have not been mistakenly cast into our respective roles – no matter how seemingly insignificant they may appear. Each and every role has a purpose.
The way I see it, being a “Star” isn’t so much about glitz, glamour, recognition or adulation. Being a “Star” is a mindset. It is the quiet realisation and confidence that one is unique, invaluable and able to execute their role as only they can. This realisation is like a pocketful of sunshine. This realisation is the moment that, notwithstanding the role, one stops being an “Extra”.