Who Am I?

Those who know me well know of my obsession with the musical Les Misreables. I love the story, the settings, the music- I love it all. But at the heart of the show for me is an intense spirituality. When Victor Hugo wrote the novel, he wrote for those who felt repressed and hopeless. In the story a man named Jean Valjean breaks a window and steals a loaf of bread to help feed his sister's starving children. He is arrested and spends 19 years working on a chain gang. When he finally receives his parole, he is given a slip of paper that he must carry for the rest of his life. This identifies him as a felon. He is treated like an outcast by much of society. No one will hire him, and he is hungry. Eventually he is offered bread and wine at a church, and they offer to let him spend the night. During the night, he steals a silver goblet and some silver candlestick holders, and takes off into the night. He is captured by the police who bring him back to see the Bishop at the the church. When the police present the evidence to the Bishop, they say that Valjean claimed the silver had been a gift. The Bishop backs up his story and Valjean goes free. Before letting him go, the Bishop tells Valjean that he must use the silver to change his life and help humanity. In the musical he sings, "I have bought your soul for God." And Jean Valjean does indeed change his life and live in service to others. A second chance made all the difference.

On Twitter there is a group of folks who call themselves the People of the Second Chance (@potsc). They preach grace and forgiveness, and create an atmosphere of love for those who feel like failures in the eyes of the world- or of God. These people are lovers and encouragers in a big way (you can read more about them on their website). I feel very connected with them, because for a short period of time in my own life I felt no one could ever forgive me. This, of course is "stinkin thinkin." The band Stellar Kart once sang, "There will always be second chances, and you will always be on your first try." God's grace is bottomless, and God's love is endless. But sometimes, the culture we live in does not give those second chances or that forgiveness. We tend to be much more in tune with revenge or retribution. As with Jean Valjean and the Bishop, it takes someone special- someone who understands Jesus and what grace is really all about- to offer unconditional love and grace in this world. There have been many of those people in my own life. Martin Luther King once said that "forgiveness is not an act- it is an attitude." It can be hard to come by, even in the church. I know at times it has been for me.

Some days it just hits me. I'm Jean Valjean.  For the rest of my life I must carry my piece of paper. There will always be people who see me as evil and nonredeemable.  But there have been people- so many people- who have shown me grace. And because of them and a Savior who died that I might live I have been given a second chance. A second chance to be a better friend and to show love to the ones who matter most to me. A second chance to be in a new kind of ministry online.  A second chance to make a difference in the lives of people I love. It is clear to me that we are all people of the second chance. We all need forgiveness, and we all need to give it. We all need Jesus.  

Sometimes it is easy to forget who we are and whose we are. Today I know. "Who am I? I'm Jean Valjean!" Let's us go forth and share our second chance with others, always remembering that "to love another person is to see the face of God..."

Because of Jesus,

Do You Hear the People Sing?

My family has, over the past few years, developed some traditions for Christmas Day. We arise around 8 am, and I make homemade sausage balls for breakfast.  We then open gifts.  And around noon we head out to see a movie, usually one that is just opening in theaters on Christmas Day.  Yesterday the movie of choice was Les Miserables.

If you know me at all then you know that I am a total Les Miz geek.  Over the many years that I took youth groups to New York I was fortunate enough to see the stage show on Broadway 12 times.  I own the original Broadway cast CD set.  I own the complete symphonic recording (3 CDs) with every second of music from the show.  I own a VHS of the 10th anniversary "Dream Cast" concert.  I even own the hat you see pictured above, purchased at the Imperial Theater at the 15th anniversary performance.  Over the years I preached a number of sermons focusing on the story of grace and redemption that is the heart of Victor Hugo's amazing literary work- which I have read a number of times.  I tell these things simply so you will understand this- I know my Les Miz!

Despite having seen many clips and positive reviews about this new new movie version of my favorite musical, I went yesterday with a little fear and trepidation about what they might have changed.  I was a little nervous about Russell Crowe as Javert.  I was anxious about what might have been cut to keep the movie shorter than the play.  And I have to admit, I was worried for nothing!  It was amazing.  If Anne Hathaway does not win an Oscar for her portrayal of Fantine then they should just quit giving the awards.  Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean was also truly magnificent.  They had indeed made a number of changes from the stage version, moving around the order of songs, changing lyrics, shortening songs and even altering some of the plot- and trust me, I noticed them all.  But it all worked.  The cast brilliantly captured the spirit and passion of the story in a new, exciting way.  My family loved it, and I feel certain will see it again soon.

There was one special part of the show for me, and I am sure for many other Les Miserables geeks.  The role of the Bishop - the man who changes the life of the convict 24601 by offering him grace and forgiveness at a moment when punishment and condemnation would have been justified- was played by Colm Wilkerson.  Colm was the original Jean Valjean in both London and New York. He is the gold standard for the role, and to have him show up in the movie was a wonderful surprise.

If you are unfamiliar with the story of Les Miz, I should warn you it is deep and complex.  It is about love, revolution, poverty, sacrifice and death.  But first and foremost, it is about grace. It is about Old Testament law and vengeance verses New Testament grace and redemption.  IT will make you question who is right and who is wrong. It will make you laugh, but more often make you weep. The finale of both musical and movie is Do You Hear the People Sing?  The song speaks of a lost people climbing to the light, and how hope never dies, and how darkness will end (John 1:5).  The story of Les Miz is in many ways the story of what of vibrant, living Christian faith should be.  There is more real life theology in this story that in any seminary class you could ever take.  Go see the film. Listen to the people sing.  And be moved.

Because of Jesus,

One Day More

Tomorrow we'll discover what our God in Heaven has in store...one more dawn...one more day...one day more!

During my years at Springfield Friends Meeting we often spent the days before Thanksgiving in New York City as part of a larger group from Friends United Meeting.  We were there in 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993, and my best guess is that about 40 different youth from Springfield were able to visit the Big Apple as part of these trips.  We always went to a Broadway play, and in  '89  Doyle Craven got us tickets to one of the biggest shows ever, Les Miserables.  In the years that would follow, I would see Les Miz 11 times on Broadway at the Imperial Theater (at left).  It is without peer as a musical and an inspiration.

Victor Hugo's story of sin, redemption and revolution is complex, so I will not attempt to sum it up here.  I will tell you that it is the story of Jean Valjean, a thief who is given a chance at a new life by a priest who Valjean has just robbed.  The priest offers grace and forgiveness, telling Valjean that he has "bought his soul for God."  Valjean then goes on to live his life in service to God and others.  The entire time he is in violation of his parole and living under a false identity.  An officer of the law, Javert, pursues him over the years.  Javert sees only the law (Can you say Pharisee?) and in the end cannot live with the idea of forgiveness.  That story is woven into the lives of wealthy students standing up for the rights of the poor and oppressed in Paris in the early 1800's.  These students end up giving their lives for what they believe in. 

The first time I saw the show I had no clue as to what I was in for, but I was sitting between Marilyn and Heather Beggs.  Heather knew the music and the story, and knew that at some point a terrible tragedy would befall one of the female characters, Eponine.  In preparation, Heather started crying early and often.  She was sobbing so loudly at one point she had to leave the theater.  We made fun of Heather for a long time about her tears, but the truth is Les Miz made me shed tears every time I saw it.  Listening to the soundtrack still gives me goosebumps. 

I have done a number of sermons over the years using this story, because it is a tale of faith and redemption.  Javert believes we are saved by the law; Valjean understands the law is nothing without grace. The words of the finale describe in vivid detail the human struggle and the search for God.  I share them here:

Do you hear the people sing, lost in the valley of the night

It is the music of a people who are climbing to the light

For the wretched of the earth there is a flame that never dies

Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise

We will live again in freedom in the garden of the Lord

We will walk behind the plow-share, we will put away the sword

The chain will be broken and all men will have their reward...

Will you join in our crusade, who will be strong and stand with me?

Somewhere beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see?

Do you hear the people sing, say do you hear the distant drums?

It is the future that they bring when tomorrow comes...

Isn't that who we hope to be- a people who are climbing to the light?  Are we willing to push beyond the barricades and see others as God sees them?  Who will "stand strong" and praise God for His faithfulness?  Stop and give thanks this holiday season for the love of God expressed in the gift of Jesus.  In the video posted below (featuring Colm Wilkinson, the first Valjean I ever saw) a reunion cast shares the first act finale, One Day More.  You hear the conflict and the passion of all the major characters, and it all comes down to this: God is in control, so go with God!  And remember the truth that once was spoken- to love another person is to see the face of God...