Who's On First
Who’s On First is considered to be one of the greatest comedy routines of all time. It was performed by the premier entertainment duo of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, stars of vaudeville, radio, and early television. They had a great respect for their audiences, and wanted nothing more than to hear the laughter, as a result of their hard work.
November 4th, 1943, Lou Costello was rehearsing for the evening Abbott and Costello radio show at the NBC studios when he received the tragic news that Butch, his soon to be year old son, had drowned in the family swimming pool. “Although Jimmy Durante, Bob Hope, Mickey Rooney and Red Skelton volunteered to take his place, Costello insisted that the show must go on. He returned to the studio and did the radio show with Abbott and Lana Turner. At the end of the program, Costello rushed from the stage, his face streaked with tears. Then Abbott announced Butch Costello's death.”
The show must go on – a phrase most often used in show business, particularly the theatre. It means that whatever has been planned or scheduled must be carried out, regardless of the current circumstances, including any problems or disruption. To Lou Costello, even in the midst of unspeakable tragedy, keeping his commitment to fellow artists and entertaining millions of listeners was what came first to Mr. Costello before his personal grief.
Isn’t it interesting that entertainers often have a higher regard for what is important than many who claim to serve the Lord Jesus. Sure, they are ultimately serving their own self-interests (wealth, stardom, etc) but the commitment they have to their ideals often compels them to go beyond what they desire to do themselves. What hinders the Jesus show in your life from continuing as scheduled (1 Peter 2:9)?
- Are you sick? Don’t skip church, call for prayer (James 5:13-15)
- A loved one passed away? There’s a blessing in mourning when you allow yourself to be comforted (Matthew 4:4)
- Discouraged by those that reject God but seem blessed? I understood their end when I went to God’s sanctuary (Psalm 73:1-17)
- Too tired or busy to go to church and be involved in the work of God? Seek first His kingdom and everything else will fall into place (Matthew 6:33)
- Feeling lonely and depressed? Find another brother or sister and encourage them. Remember, you can do all things through Jesus, which strengthens you (Philippians 4:13)
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Matthew 22:37). The things we make time for tells everyone around us what is most important to us. So, Who’s on first in your life?
References
https://ladailymirror.com/2013/11/05/lou-costellos-son-drowns-in-swimming-pool/
The show must go on. (n.d.) Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. (2015). Retrieved October 20 2017 from https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/The+show+must+go+on
