Throwing Away My Shot

We recently went to see ‘Hamilton’; I came out singing: ‘I’m not throwing away my shot.’

Alexander Hamilton has just one shot at life. Ambitious and resilient, he’s determined to seize opportunities and not let chances slip away; he’ll make best use of his potential and circumstances.

I was reminded of two people yesterday who didn’t ‘throw away their shot’.

…Chloe Marie Aston, from Devon, is passionate about music. She started busking when she was 14; then her dad had the crazy idea of putting a piano on a bike. Her piano bike performances began in 2019 and grew in popularity…

This year Chloe Marie set out to busk in every town in the UK; by August she’d visited 200… Last week she played Kidderminster, Bromsgrove, Solihull…

Last Saturday, performing in Tamworth, her van containing her personal possessions, costumes and backup equipment was stolen. Encouraged by fans and friends she set up an online fundraiser that’s now reached £9,000+.

She’s cancelled immediate dates but hopes to be back for Bampton Charter Fair, Devon on 30 October. This talented, determined 21-year-old is not throwing away her shot.

St Cyril (c313-386) was born in Jerusalem, became a priest and eventually bishop of Jerusalem. Constantly involved with conflict and theological disagreements, he was disgraced, forced to leave his position and banished from Jerusalem; much of his time as bishop was spent in exile.

And yet… Wikipedia tells me: ‘Cyril’s writings are filled with the loving and forgiving nature of God…  the healing power of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit, like ‘The Spirit comes gently… with the tenderness of a true friend to save, to heal, to teach, to counsel, to strengthen and to console.’ Cyril himself followed God’s message of forgiveness many times throughout his life… He never wrote or showed any ill will towards those who wronged him…’

I’m persuaded that St Cyril didn’t throw away his shot.

Chloe Marie and St Cyril can’t be more different… yet both encourage me not to throw away my shot.