07/24/2020
From Mr. Geren:
“To my Rebellion,
I hope you have had a blessed and wonderful summer! Please read the following, as it has taken me many months, many prayers, and many tears to form.
I know generally this is the beginning of the new year for The Rebellion, that we usually begin during the July 4 parade. Unfortunately this pandemic has caused so many things to change. I know for a fact that when this is all said and done, each of us will have renewed strength and renewed outlook on life that we have never had before. It is the very reason that we do what we do in our craft. We act out a character’s life, we build a character’s world, we decorate, we sing, we dance, and we create new life on stage every time we perform for our community. This pandemic is just another act of conflict that our characters must go through before reaching the inevitable happy ending.
However, it is here during this act that I will take my bow and leave my cage on the ground.
As of yesterday‘s board meeting, a new drama teacher was approved and I will be stepping down from my position as director to take my place in the education of The Rebellion in World History. As I said before, this uneasy choice was made with many, many months of prayer, much deliberation, and a lot of tears. I do this to serve my family, whom you all know must come first in my life. God has granted me an awesome opportunity to be a part of your lives and to have you be part of mine. And you will always be part of mine.
Our new drama teacher, Mrs. Colbie Rogers, will bring fresh new ideas excelling anything with which I’ve ever attempted to serve you. I was able to listen to her ideas and her love for teaching during her interview and can personally attest that she will serve with a servant’s heart! She will create a direction for the Rebellion that I pray will continue to serve this community for a very long time.
I will not be completely away. I have been asked to continue to serve as an assistant for this transitional year. I will still be involved with the direction of the One Act Play, assuming that competition will still be held, I will also assist with the spring musical, and I will continue to serve as coach for the Literary Team. However, my day to day duties will be remanded to my family, whom have been and continues to be supportive of the theater. With the pandemic, and the danger that it puts on my family, I cannot continue to serve you well and serve my family even more. The Rebellion deserves a servant who can dedicate herself to you, and you have found that servant in Mrs. Rogers. Please serve her with kindness and understanding. As I have always asked, treat her better than you treat me, as she is now one of my colleagues, making her one of the most important people in my life.
I am thankful for the time you offered me to serve you. I hope I have served enough to make a positive impact, and if I have not, I offer my deepest regrets and beg your forgiveness. I look forward to The Rebellion becoming a household name for amazing theater and more importantly, amazing change in a world that is desperate for love and peace.
I pray for you continually, love you eternally, and will serve you still in any way I can.
Many blessings, and smile . . .
IT’S GOIN’ TA BE A GRRREAT DAAAAYYYY!
With love,
The Reverend Almost Doctor Sir Todd of Geren, Jedi Knight of the First Order
Flyleaf New Horizons
