Song of the day:
The Mother and I went to Back to the Future: The Musical yesterday, and it was great! When I first heard about this show I couldn’t imagine how they were going to make the 1985 movie - one of my all-time favorites! - into a full-on stage production. When I learned it was in our Broadway Denver package this year I wasn’t sure how I felt. My expectations were pretty low, but they were exceeded by a lot. I mean y’all, they had an actual time-traveling DeLorean on stage!
But it was more than the car…the music was great, the acting was excellent, and it followed the movie for the most part. They changed a few things, but they didn’t take away from the story. And even though I knew the ending, I was still so excited about it! Now I need to watch all the movies again because it’s been quite a while.
The nostalgia of the 80s was everywhere, and I loved it, especially hearing the Huey Lewis and the News tunes. They’ve always been one of my favorite bands from the 80s and early 90s - I actually saw them live in the 80s - so it was fun to hear their music again. I am definitely going to be updating my “favorites” playlist later.
If you get a chance to see this musical, even if you didn’t see (or like) the movie, I highly recommend it. It was a fantastic and joyful diversion from everything happening in the world right now.
And speaking of everything going on in the world…
I continue to worry about the fires in California and feel awful about the enormous loss that so many have suffered. I’m so thankful President Biden provided so much help before he left office, as I fear the current President will not provide any.
I worry about the ongoing wars around the world and the killing of so many innocent people.
It’s only been a few days of the second Trump presidency, and the executive orders coming from the White House are awful. To be fair, he’s doing exactly what he said he would, and what Project 2025 promised. I will never understand how so many thought he was the best choice to lead our country. I truly wonder what the state of the USA will be at the end of his term. Of course I saw yesterday that someone has put forth a bill to amend the constitution and let him run for a third term. I literally can’t stomach the idea of that. I ache for my friends in the LGBTQIA+ community, for my Black friends, my Asian friends, my Hispanic friends. I worry about my friends who work in the DEI industry, and those who don’t have healthcare through their jobs. I worry about the climate, the cost of prescription drugs, the cuts to research, and the misinformation that runs rampant through social media (and pretty much all types of news media). Y’all, it’s a LOT.
But…
I bought myself a new daily devotional (Catching Whimsy by Bob Goff) for Christmas, and yesterday’s entry was particularly appropriate:
Based on Matthew 5:16-17, the focus of the entry was on letting your light shine. Bob was a trial lawyer for most of his career and talks about how he’s heard all the lawyer jokes. But, he says, “It’s not the profession that is the problem; it’s the people who beat other people up with religious rules and laws.” I mean, if that doesn’t perfectly describe the white Christian nationalism we’re seeing these days, I don’t know what does.
Bob goes on to say that while Jesus takes rules seriously, He also “…cares about how we caretake His promises…He doesn’t ask us to be the hall monitors of other people’s conduct…He asks us to be light in an otherwise dark world.” Now we’re not supposed to be indifferent to what’s happening around us, but we need to “…remain intent on doing beautiful things in the world.” This will help us not “…become distracted by what others are doing.”
Whether you’re a follower of Jesus or not, I think you can appreciate not becoming distracted by what’s happening right now, that you can continue to focus on how to make the world around us better. This is going to look different for everyone, of course, but if we all do a little, it will make a huge difference. So stay focused, and as you are able, be a light so bright that it drowns out the darkness.
This thought naturally reminded me of one of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s most famous quotes, pulled from the passage below (from the book Strength to Love):
“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. So when Jesus says ‘Love your enemies,’ he is setting forth a profound and ultimately inescapable admonition. Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies—or else? The chain reaction of evil—hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars—must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.”
Most of us truly hate what’s going on right now, but us hating it doesn’t make it not happen. So we have to be the light wherever and however we can. We have to be so much light that the hate simply can’t survive. Is it easy? Absolutely not. Will it happen quickly? No it won’t. But we can’t stop trying. However, it’s also important to rest and have some fun here and there. The work must continue, but not to the detriment of our own health and well-being. Shine your light, but when you’re tired and feeling like it’s all too much, it’s okay to lay your light down for a while. The rest of us will give you some of ours until you’re ready to shine again.
Image from The Trapped Librarian
Video of the day:
You should come preach this at our church. I know you're not a preacher but this is really good and would definitely preach (& we're looking for guest speakers).
Bonus - I would get to see you
Love the book. Thanks for the gift. Bob is an amazing man. I've followed his writing for quite a while. Practical and Bold.