“One of the problems of being a storyteller is the cultivated ability to extrapolate; in every situation all the what ifs come to me.”
― Madeleine L'Engle, The Summer of the Great-Grandmother

What if Finding Patience, the Musical had very little to do with the 175-year history of Holly Springs, North Carolina, or the character, Patience Leslie serving as narrator through various significant events of the town’s history?   What if the entire play was all allegorical, not in an attempt to devalue or cheapen the rich legacy of the town’s foundational members and their stories but to bring attention to something more than lies within us?   What if Patience was representative of the part of ourselves that we have allowed to die, refuse to give life to, or forgotten existed? 

What if we are at a crossroads of key decisions in our own lives, where we haven’t made amends with our past and are not fully ready to accept our future?  What if we’ve spent more time Talkin’ Wid’ The Livin’ versus our dreams and aspirations that Ain’t Nobody Sees Them?  What if we long for a place to truly belong, our Home, Sweet Home but we have been too occupied taking up residence in temporary housing? Seeking survival, we were unable to see that there was Light at the End of the Tunnel. Just think, how often have we felt unnoticed, proverbially screaming, Look at Me!  In our lowly state, something is beckoning us to: Don’t Let It Stay.   I guess we’d need to figure out what this “it” truly is.   Is it the very thing that Finding Patience was pointing us to?  Or, are we okay with not truly knowing because there is some level of comfort in not knowing?   However, we find ourselves desiring more, but oftentimes, our deepest aspirations feel like a mirage.  You know, we have those moments when we feel like the World’s Okayest Ghost Hunters. 

While staying in the place of decisions, we know to Keep Your Hand on the Plow, because regardless, we know we are built for RISIN’.  Something deep within reminds us that we, our ancestors, and those to follow us are Countin’ On Us to do something much greater than ourselves.  Yet, if we decide to reside in this place of decisions, it becomes a town that we’ve manifested or easily, The Town Chooses You. Those who have a spiritual connection understand that Lord Will Make A Way, preparing us for a life Of Fits and Starts, which brings us back to this place of decisions.   We must decide to Be A Builder or a breaker.   Building propels us forward, whereas, breaking is regressive.

Tying directly to the opening statement, what if this is all allegorical?  What if Patience, received her light several times but wasn’t ready to walk into it? Just think, how many times have we sacrificed our light for others or in fear? What if we chose to live in this purgatory-like state of existence because the burden of who we are expected to be versus created to be is too heavy? What if we, like the town, have chosen, something greater has chosen us to be a part of this experience, either as participators or spectators?  What if Finding Patience, the Musical was literally the route we all needed for the next transition of our lives.  We must ask ourselves, what major decision is needed to be made at this moment?  What light within us are we shielding?

What if we are all in a place of transition and needed this experience in order to make that very decision? What if that decision is directly connected to our ability, preparedness, and readiness to walk into our light, our path of fulfillment?

Abilgail Holdaway, Alex Lewis, Angie Staheli, Angela Clemente, Lexi Taylor, Austin Ryles, Brian Evans, Cailey Evans, Caleb La Bonte, Carl Mulfingerm Craig Ashby, Crystal Lee, Darin Knapp, David Staheli, Daylen Jones, Dena Konkel, Desirae Barton, Dustin Walk, Edie Larson, Ella Pelikan, George Kimble, Gina Anderson, Hadassah Patterson, Jackie Knight, James Holdaway, Jane Fitzpatrick, Jenna Davis, Jeremy Phillips,  Joey Duplessis, Kaleen Holdaway, Kamerin Hull, Kevan Holdaway, Katie Milligan, Katie Whaite, Lailani Garnett, Lanaila Garnett, LeWayne Powell, Sherie Scott-Powell, Lexi Hart, Lilah Wallace, Makeithra Evans, Mark Savoldi, Cindy Savoldi, Nancy Truett, Maris Gillespie, Mattie King, Maxim Langstaff, Melanie Simmons, Melody Handy, Michelle Yousik, Moon Eldridge, NaDrya Godwin, Nicolette Ash, Qualia Holder-Cozart, Rachel Atkin, Rolonda Hernandez, Sam Schuster,  Sentry Rose Wilson, Shia Edwards, April Edwards, Sarah Larson, Seirra Smith, Tara Miles, Tammera Hill, Tomiko Lane, TrinaRose Wilson, Wanda Holloway, Valerie Horton, William Ball, William Trautman, Barbara Koblich, Doris Battle, Warren Holleman, Tina Early, Todd Lee, Veronica Delgado

Your name is forever attached to the light.  Continue to chart your path and build a legacy of legacies, forged in love. You will be remembered for it all…

About Finding Patience the Musical

Finding Patience made its way back to the mainstage in June of 2022, but this time, as a musical! Finding Patience – The Musical captures all of the elements that we loved so much about the original production, but adds the layers of music, singing, and dance. Adapted into a musical by Playwright and Lyricist Angie Ottosen-Staheli (Local Legacy Productions) and remarkably talented Composer Jeremy Phillips (Solace Theatre), Finding Patience – The Musical features moving music, stirring songs, expressive dancing, and more than enough heart to bring Holly Springs history back to life.

Love Is A Parable- an initiative and movement that later became an organization within itself. Love is A Parable is a DBA and subsidiary of Altar and Dwelling Place, Inc. We are a charitable and an educational 501c3 organization, who provide character, social, and leadership development to those who have an aspiration toward unity, love, and kindness through a reflective thinking approach and sacred-box theory.

J. Dwayne Garnett, BSRT, MHA, QP
Chief Executive Officer
Love Is A Parable
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