Into the Fire

Fun time of the year for those of us who enjoy television. Two of my favorite series kicked off Tuesday night. For NCIS fans, this season will be bittersweet as they struggle to recover from the exit of very popular character "Ziva David" played by Cote de Pablo. She's endeared herself to many, and the outcry has been fierce. It was her decision to leave as it's rumored she's pregnant. Daniela Ruah who plays "Kensi" on NCIS LA is pregnant with her first child so it will be interesting to see how this will be handled. (Some die-hard JAG fans will recall when Catherine Bell was pregnant with her first child and managed to make it through the entire season with the use of clever techniques for shooting her scenes.)

With television characters we have visuals to add to dialogue. What contributes to our decisions to latch on to characters who become our favorites? Is it the same dynamic as the process for our favorite novel characters? What are those intangibles we often discover after allowing a character into our lives?

Father, I appreciate the creation of characters, the beauty of adding layers. May these unique actors discover who gives them their talents and gifts. May they appreciate the maker of their skills. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.