Les Miserables...and Then Some

I love my church.  I love the people.  I love the pastor.  I really love the worship leader guy.  He's hot.

And one of the best things about summer is that Grant takes us through film and teaches on how to view movies - arguably one of the most prominent art forms in our culture - through the lenses of the Gospel, because it's impossible to keep the Gospel out of a good story.  So every summer we do a film festival that focuses on three movies.  This Sunday was Les Miserables.  And the shocking truth?  I had never seen it.

I was a vocalist all throughout school, beginning in 3rd grade, which was the youngest age at which I could participate in choir.  It ended up being kind of my thing.  So I knew just about every song in Les Miserables word for word by the time I resigned from choral singing at the ripe old age of twenty (aka, when I changed my major).  So I think Grant assumed I had seen it when he called me up this week and asked if I was interested in a round table discussion with him on Sunday morning about the film.  This is something he does from time to time - invites folks up to discuss issues and get different perspectives.  It's really cool...to watch.  I wasn't sure how cool it was going to be to do.  But I had an excuse - I had never seen the movie.  And I was leaving for Tulsa and wouldn't have time between now and then.  Sorry Grant.  While we were talking of other people he could ask, he came up with Lindsey.  I said YES!  She would be perfect!  I knew Lindsey would be great and that this would stretch her, but she is really good about taking on new challenges.  I was pretty sure she'd say yes.  And I was off the hook.

I thought.  Apparently, Grant took my "I-haven't-seen-the-movie-and-won't-have-time-to-watch-it" response as a yes.  He sent Lindsey and me an email with discussion questions.  I was about to respond back that I couldn't because I was leaving town, but wouldn't you know it, my son got sick.  Suddenly I had time to watch the movie.  So Lindsey and another friend who is extremely passionate about this story came over to my house and we watched.  We discussed.  We processed.  I took notes.  I felt like maybe I could do this.

Sunday morning came, and as always, it's a flurry of activity in our house.  I didn't have a lot of room in my head to spare for being nervous, but every time I had a down-second, I found I was.  I kept thinking, how am I qualified to do this?  I am a 7th grade reading teacher.  I hadn't even seen the movie until a few days ago.  What am I going to bring to the table?  And then I remembered that God is in charge.  My willingness is all He needs.  He will work no matter how much I sound like an idiot (which, I confessed to my husband, was my number one fear, and a pretty selfish one at that).

Before any of us got up there, Grant showed the clip of the song "Do You Hear the People Sing?"  It's one of my favorite songs from the musical, and about half the congregation was singing along.  For whatever reason, it really eased my mind about what was about to happen.  We were just having a conversation about truth. Grace. God.  When the scene concluded, we headed up to the stage.

How did it go?  Great.  Both services were great.  We showed clips, discussed characters, and drew parallels to the Bible, of which there are a great many in this story.  If you care to listen, you can find the podcast here.  And if you want to read Lindsey's perspective, click here.  I love how she called this experience a "spiritual growth spurt."  Can I steal that phrase? :)  It really was a great and fun opportunity, and definitely a "new thing."