Wicked!

I am thankful today, for yesterday. :) 

My parents very generously gave me 2 tickets to the musical, Wicked, for my birthday.  So yesterday, I drove up to Nashville with Lisa to see it.  I have to say that it met and very much exceeded every expectation that I had.  Wow, wow, wow...  if you ever have the chance to see this, please do it.  It's a great story...  the music and dancing were phenominal...  the sets were amazing...   and the age old stories of 'good vs evil' and the bonds of friendship will leave me thinking for a long time to come. 

After Wicked, we went to pick up Mackenzie at Lipscomb and got to go worship with her at Ethos.  Again, another wonderful experience.  The couple of times that I have had the opportunity to visit have left me feeling inspired, refreshed and encouraged, knowing that God is near and is relentlessly in pursuit of my heart.  The lesson for the night focused on Hebrews 12 and I was challenged by how much I am (or am not) striving to 'throw off everything that hinders, fix my eyes on Jesus, and remember that no matter how hard I feel it gets, still, I haven't yet resisted to the point of shedding my blood.'  Jesus was willing to do that for me - how willing am I to go there for Him? Oh how I resist the things that start coming to mind that probably should go that I still hold on to...  At one point the question was asked, "If you found out today that Jesus was just a hoax, would your life look all that different?"  You know, while I can say that would put me in all kinds of inward turmoil, I'm not really sure how different my life would look to the outside observer, and that causes me to pause and wonder what I'm really doing with my life?  Something to think about.

My very sweet daughter surprised me with this wreath that she made for my birthday.  She's decided to get 'crafty' and I was very impressed with her creation - right down to the handpainted 'houndstooth' on the "A" --   :)   It was great to be with her and have dinner together - a perfect finish to a perfect day.

So I thought I'd leave you with one of the last songs from Wicked called 'For Good.'  It's hard to choose between this one and 'Defying Gravity' for a favorite, but I love what this last song says about friendship and the kind of effect that friends have on our lives.  It's very profound...


 


"FOR GOOD"

ELPHABA
I'm limited:
Just look at me - I'm limited
And just look at you -
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda
So now it's up to you
(spoken) For both of us
(sung) Now it's up to you:

GLINDA
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you:

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

ELPHABA
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend:
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you:

GLINDA
Because I knew you:

BOTHI have been changed for good

ELPHABA
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for

GLINDA
But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share

BOTH
And none of it seems to matter anymore

GLINDA ELPHABA
Like a comet pulled Like a ship blown
From orbit as it Off it's mooring
Passes a sun, like By a wind off the
A stream that meets Sea, like a seed
A boulder, half-way Dropped by a
Through the wood Bird in the wood

BOTH
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
I do believe I have been changed for the better?

GLINDA
And because I knew you:
ELPHABA
Because I knew you:

BOTH
Because I knew you:
I have been changed for good.