An Upbeat Word for a Downbeat World, #9

The choir director selected the 6-year-old boy with the sweetest face in the production for the opening scene of the play. "Now, all you have to do is, when I direct the choir to sing "?And the angel lit the candle,' you come onstage and light all the candles."

"I can do it! I can do it!" the little boy said, excited to be the one picked. Rehearsals came and went, and finally the big night arrived. The choir was in grand voice, the stage was beautifully decorated with dozens of unlit candles all around, awaiting the moment when the cute littlest angel made his entrance.

The director gave the downbeat, the orchestra began to play, and the choir swept into the introductory lines, ending with an expectant "And the angel lit the candle," and everyone …