Several months ago, a friend told me to listen to the soundtrack of Hamilton, the musical that has gotten so very much acclaim recently. And so about a month and a half ago, I listened to it for the first time. Boy! did my life change that day! I thought I would just be listening to another good musical, and possibly falling in love with it – the story, the music, the lyrics – as I have done with other musicals like Into the Woods and Les Misérables. I was wrong. I am now rather obsessed with this musical. So obsessed that, for a couple of weeks, I listened to Hamilton and only Hamilton on constant repeat. I have never before felt so emotionally connected to our founding fathers, or felt so proud to be a United States citizen. Actually, there have been very few times in the past that I have been whole-heartedly proud of being from the United States. Sure, there are luxuries and privileges that come with being a citizen of this country, but there are so many things I have not liked about it. There are still things I do not like about the United States: our rampant consumerism; our disrespect for nature and wasteful use of resources (which thankfully is lessening in some places, but could still be improved upon); and our “bigger is better” motto when it comes to things like food servings, vehicles, and campaign budgets… Just to name a few.
Musical Theater
Moving On
Last night, I showed one of my recent favorite films to my mom, the movie NINE. I must confess that she was rather taken aback by the raciness of the first half of the movie, but I think she appreciated the film in the end. After all, the women on the screen of NINE are more clothed than many bikini wearers you see out in public. The songs may be talking about sex, and the dances suggesting it, but it’s not nearly as disturbing as watching actors pretend to have sex on screen. And the costumes, music, storyline, actors, and the way in which it is filmed are all fabulous! So I don’t mind so much. (But, still, if you were planning on watching this with your kids, think twice – thrice – unless, of course, your kids are planning to watch it with their friends no matter what. In that case, perhaps you should watch and discuss it with them instead of leaving them to sift through their thoughts on their own. This film may be rated PG-13, but R would be more appropriate.)
Once you get through the first half of the film, you begin to learn more about the main character, Italian film director Guido Contini, and just how burdened he is. Guido Contini (played by the incredible Daniel Day-Lewis) is the biggest reason I love this movie. There are so many times that I have (and do) feel just as trapped, perfectionistic, artistically stuck, and directionally confused as Contini.
Palm Sunday 2015
Praise God for warmer weather.
Praise God for good education.
Praise God for friends.
Praise God for family.
Praise God for music.
Praise God for story.
Praise God for being humble when we, His creation, are not.
Praise God for sewing.
Praise God for new discoveries.
Praise God for teaching us through hard circumstances.
Praise God for health insurance.
Praise God for blue skies.
Praise God for caring people.
Praise God for loving us when we do not deserve it.
Praise God for eye-opening experiences.
Praise God for happier days.
Praise God for bearing our burdens.
Praise God for rain.
Praise God for flowers.
Praise God for redeeming us.
Praise God for feeling pretty without makeup for the first time in my life.
Praise God for rest.
Praise God for colors.
Praise God for lifting our heads from despair.
Praise God for role models.
Praise God for sending His long-expected Son.
Praise God for His Son’s unexpected humility, poverty, humanity, and love.
Praise God for doing what many of us will be remembering through this Holy Week.
Read from the beginning: soarwithlaughter.com/soar-cloud-high
You Choose: Lazy Boredom or Story Characters?
It takes a lot for me to feel lonely. More than a month ago, I moved to a new town and started a new job. A lot of my energy has gone into getting used to my job and to learning (or not learning) the secret of waking up early and arriving at work before sunrise every morning. I have spoken to people at work and to people at each church I’ve visited, as well as to some family and friends on the phone. But outside of work, Sunday church, and occasional phone conversations, I have spoken very little to anyone in the past few weeks. As some may call it, I have been “unsociable and taciturn”, and yet I have barely noticed.
Soar with Laughter 