The Impossible Dream

It seems like one of the most common ideas I hear expressed is, "Once I stopped looking, I found what I had been seeking all along." We say it all the time about spouses. This certainly held true for me as an ETA as well. 

I don't really say this often, but just earlier this year, I thought I was pretty much finished as an ETA. In March, I had resolved to quit. My decision was solidified by June 9. But on June 10th, something changed. 

I typically identify the official start of my time as an ETA as being June of 2021. I stepped onto the stage in Tupelo for the first time. I realized in that moment that I had entered into a new world. I worked at improving the best I could over the next few years, but after having several more competitions in which I never placed, I found myself this year coming to thr conclusion that I was finished.

In March, I went to Branson, Missouri for a competition. As I listened to some of the other competitors, one in particular stood out to me as an exemplar. Although he had a good voice, it didn’t sound like Elvis. I thought to myself, "If he makes it to the top 10 and I don't, I'll take it as a pretty clear sign that I should just throw in the towel because this scene doesn’t actually want me after all." Sure enough, he made top 10 and I made peace with the idea that Tupelo (for which I had already signed up) would be my final official entry in the Elvis Tribute Artist world.

Tupelo came upon us, and exactly what I anticipated took place. One more competition, one more unsuccessful attempt. I wasn't upset; I had made my peace with getting out of Elvis competitions, and I was proud of what I had done on stage. I felt like I had given it my all. I had no shame in leaving it behind. As we drove away from Tupelo on Saturday morning, it was a calm way to let it all go.

That evening I was scheduled to perform at the Lincoln Jamboree in Hodgenville. I had taken that as a fun opportunity to get on stage simply as myself - something I hadn't been able to do in a long time. I only did one Elvis song - "If I Can Dream" - but my other songs that evening were just me. I got to be silly, serious, and everything in-between. But two things happened that night, and both made me realize I wasn't done yet with Elvis after all.

First, as I spoke with folks backstage, I ended up chatting with another ETA who had been doing this professionally for over 20 years. He gave insights, thoughts, ideas - and some of his old (but pristine!) jumpsuits to me. I had to put them to good use, after all!

Second, and perhaps even more importantly, I rediscovered "it." When I started my training as a pastor, I was essentially told to shut off any sort of charisma. It needed to be clear that I wasn't in the pulpit to perform, but to preach the Scriptures. Over time, all that charisma I had, I learned to shut it off. Now all these years later, I needed it and couldn't get it back. 

That night, I had my "aha" moment. I figured out how to tap into that again. All of that time I had spent suppressing was finally reversed. I knew my time with Elvis wasn't done after all. 

It's often in those moments where we feel like we're hopeless and it's time to throw in the towel that God simply shows us a new way. It's hard to feel like the former things need to go, but perhaps they simply need to change a little. Maybe the path forward is actually better than if things had gone exactly according to our own plan. 

If I'd had my own way, I would have walked off the stage in Tupelo in 2021 as the top contestant - but what growth would I have experienced? 

I try to ask in the midst of all things, "Lord, what are You trying to teach me through this?" It's often in that posture of humility and learning that He shows me He's doing something new within me. When that new work happens, I let go of my own time frame, and I step out of the way, He is able to do His good work to make me more like the Son. 

And that's the ultimate goal.