“The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” -Psalm 27:1
As Christians we know we aren’t promised we will always triumph in all aspects of life, but we do know that with God at our side we can take on any challenge and believe we can find joy even when the walls of life seem to be pressing in on us.
One of the musicals we’re featuring this summer is the hit Broadway show, Hamilton. Hamilton is an American musical about the real-life challenges of people like Alexander Hamilton and others who stand up against British rule and declare their independence. Lin-Manuel Miranda is the writer and leading actor of this musical who adapted the story from the best-selling 2004 biography, Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. Hamilton, an orphan overcomes odds to become a national figure in our early American history and chief aide to General George Washington in the Revolutionary War.
Lin-Manuel created the character Hamilton for the musical which has become a pop culture phenomenon. It was nominated for a record setting 16 Tony awards and won eleven including Best Musical. He has found success wherever he turned…on Broadway, in TV, movies and composing. He also wrote and starred in the Broadway musical, In the Heights, was in the movie, Mary Poppins Returns and wrote part of the music for the movie, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
In 2010 he married his high school friend, Vanessa Nadal. At the wedding reception Lin-Manuel along with the wedding party surprised Vanessa with a “musical toast” performing the Fiddler on the Roof song, “To Life!” The video has been viewed more than six-million times on You Tube. Google it and watch. It’s worth your time.
This amazing song expresses the sentiment that even though our lives may be hard we can still find joy by realizing the blessings of God. The show revolves around a Jewish dairy farmer, Tevye and his family in Czarist Russia. In the musical, the song is sung as Tevye announces the marriage of his oldest daughter to all his friends. They sing, “May all your futures be pleasant ones not like our present ones. It takes a wedding to make us say, lets live another day.” Life is hard for these Jewish peasants in Mother Russia. They face discrimination and they are dirt poor. They make the most of life’s special moments like the wedding of a daughter. They recognize life can change for the worse at a moment’s notice so let’s live life without fear and be happy. Tevye sings, “God would like us to be joyful even when our hearts lie panting on the floor. And if our good fortune never comes here’s to whatever comes….TO LIFE!”
Can you say that about your life when you face challenges? You don’t live in Czarist Russia or the colonies during the Revolutionary War, but our lives can still overwhelm us at times. The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? Make the most of each day with God by your side-To Life!
-Rev. Dave Poteet, Pastor of Congregational Care
