Nobody likes practices, drills, and rehearsals.

Take all of the thrill of performance out of the event and leave only the struggle? Who wouldn’t rather hear the roar of the crowd as they take to the field, the court, or the stage? Why swim or run for hours without the hope for applause?

The experts in their field know exactly why: practice makes all the difference. What is true in sports and the performing arts is true for life. C.S. Lewis was corresponding with a woman whose health had taken a turn for the worse. She had written him about her pains and fears and his answer is illuminating:

“Pain is terrible, but surely you need not have fear as well? Can you not see death as the friend and deliverer? … Are you struggling, resisting? Don’t you think Our Lord says to you ‘Peace, child, peace. Relax. Let go. Underneath are the everlasting arms. Let go, I will catch you. Do you trust me so little?’ Of course, this may not be the end. Then make it a good rehearsal.”

C.S. Lewis, Letter to Mary Willis Shelburne

Leave it to Lewis to express the Christian view of death so beautifully! Facing death is usually the worry of those of fragile health or advanced age. Lewis’ explanation extends the concern beyond the hospital bed or the hospice center.

If we live out our day today and it was not the end of our life, it was a rehearsal for the end. Each day of your life is a grand rehearsal.

When I was on teams in high school, I didn’t always have great practices. I might have been sore from the day before or maybe a new technique was tricky to master. I left some practices wondering if the sport was even worth the pain.

In theater, rehearsals were sometimes a flop. One scene went so badly for me in rehearsal that the director changed the scenery just to make sure I didn’t make the same mistakes.

If facing daily challenges is a rehearsal, how are these practices going? Was I able to maintain the fruits of patience and gentleness when my plans fell through? Did I treat others with compassion and kindness when I received none from them?

If the path toward eternal life begins with today’s choices, am I walking through His narrow gate? Am I quickly sidetracked onto the broad and easy path? Peter sums the right way to go:

Let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

I Peter 4:19, ESV

Whether we know we are facing the end of this life, or we’re just living through the trials of the next day, God calls us to entrust our souls to Him and continue doing good. Make a practice of living the righteous life rather than the worldly life (I John 3:7).

The habits we are forming now are emblematic of our life’s trajectory. We are called to pursue the glory, honor, and immortality of the next life in every day of this life (Romans 2:7). May God bless your efforts to use the time you’ve been given as a good rehearsal for the eternal life that awaits.