Missed Expectations?

Thursday night, over 18 million people watched NBC's live musical production of the Sound of Music with Carrie Underwood. This ground-breaking live musical performance had been promoted heavily, building great anticipation for television viewers.

Not long after the program started, I noticed a lot of chatter on Facebook. I was a little surprised by the polarizing effect this performance was having on my FB friends.  It quickly became evident that people either loved it or hated it. The root of the angst that I was reading seemed to be primarily a matter of missed expectations. 

I had seen several promos on TV for the Sound of Music in recent weeks, but it wasn't until Thursday morning when I caught a segment on the Today Show that I realized the performance was based on the original musical and not on the movie.  Thank you, Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, for the heads up!  

That very important piece of information helped liberate me from comparing it to the movie and to be able to enjoy it on its own merits. I found that there were many beautiful moments and I enjoyed the 3-hour long production very much! The dancing and singing were delightful, the children were fantastic performers, and it included a good amount of encouragement from Scripture, which I found refreshing. 

The fact that it was a live televised performance was intriguing. There was no editing and no opportunity for multiple takes if someone made a mistake, forgot a line, or tripped coming down the stairs. The level of rehearsal and preparation that had gone into bringing this to pass was simply astounding, and the execution of it all was impressive.

During a few commercial breaks, I would pop over to my computer and check Facebook. I noticed a number of people agreeing that some things simply shouldn't be changed. They seemed pretty appalled at what had been done to this classic story, which is certainly understandable. We don't like our cherished favorites to be altered.

Even upon learning that last night's show was based on the original musical and not the movie, it was evident that already-formulated opinions were not likely to change. It was too late. Expectations had been solidified and many viewers were comparing Carrie Underwood's performance to Julie Andrews. Disappointment and even irritation had set in. Some people were really bothered that songs were in the wrong place and that their beloved Sound of Music had been tampered with.

The reactions shared on Facebook - both positive and negative - were a powerful reminder to me that our experience in life is in large part based on our own expectations and the attitude we bring to the table ... or to the couch in this case.

Thursday night's interactions on Facebook over this television production got me thinking about expectations in our day-to-day life experiences ... on the job, in our homes, in our marriages, parenting our children, homeschooling, serving at church, and as we celebrate the holidays, too.

Sometimes (often!) things don't go as planned or how we expected them to go. Life - and the human beings in our lives - have a way of throwing a wrench into our assumptions and how we envision something will take place. How we respond to these curve balls and missed expectations has a lot to do with whether we can enjoy the moment anyway.

It got me thinking and asking myself ... How often do I miss the joy and wonder of a moment because I am wrapped up in frustration or disappointment over it not going as planned?  Do I create a handicap in my experience by judging something against an unrealistic expectation? Or ... Do I hunt for joy in spite of obstacles and missed expectations?

This Christmas season and throughout the year ahead, it is my prayer that you and I would be fully present in each moment, finding joy and wonder, regardless of any challenges that arise.

Whether you were on the "I loved it!" or "I hated it!" side of the fence in regards to Thursday night's live TV version of the Sound of Music, there is much we can learn about our expectations and our attitude.

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6 NKJV