Into The Woods

So, I have to write about this....because this musical is something that means so much to me...I can't even begin to describe how much it has touched me. Recently, I went to see the film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's theatrical masterpiece, "Into the Woods." It was very good. I was very pleased with it. Everyone did an amazing job! However, if the staged version is in your hometown...please take a chance to see it. It's awesome.

A little condensed version of the story. "Into the Woods" is about a lonely baker and his wife who desire a child, and the only way to break the curse of infertility is to go and bring the witch four items: a gold slipper, yellow hair, a white cow, and a red cape. All those items belong to fairy tale characters that we know and love....who also happen to be on a journey of their own.

I had the pleasure of being in this show in October of 2013, and it was more of a journey than just another show. Lots of lessons were learned throughout the rehearsal process. At the time...I was fixing to graduate college, and I was contemplating my next step. Stress began to pile up as I searched and scrounged for the answers and a clear path. Also, I began to contemplate that I'd be leaving the little city that I grew somewhat attached to. I also thought about the good times I had, and the bad times. I also thought about the people I encountered...the ones I thought would be long-lasting friends, and then turned out to be strangers. I felt afraid of the future, I felt discouraged by my past, and I was uncertain of which way to go. In the story, I identified with each character in some way, shape or form. Here are a few that stand out to me the most...

Red Riding Hood:

I identify with Little Red in a few ways. In the story, she was given a task; to go to grandmother's house to give her bread and NOT TO STRAY from the path. Of course, she is deceived by a wolf and devoured, ultimately having to be rescued from the pit. This can be a metaphor to anyone who is wandering throughout life, thinking "That will never happen to me." Little Red says in the opening number:

"The way is clear, the light is good, I have no fear nor no one should. The woods are just trees, the trees are just wood."

Of course, in her blind confidence, she was not careful. There are times where I've wandered from my faith, from God, from my values, and from the people who truly care about me in pursuit of something I don't really need. (A relationship/friendship, money, etc.)  In doing that, I make the journey to my destination even harder and with unwelcome guests. The wolves in my life were only let in by me allowing them in...just like Little Red could have avoided him by just saying, "No." I could have avoided them by resisting as well. Thankfully...I was given a second chance. God has always been there to take me out of the wolf's belly and back onto the path.

"Take extra care with strangers, even flowers have their dangers. And though scary seems exciting. Nice is different than good."

Jack:

Everyone knows the story of Jack, the one who stole from the giant and killed him, and also the one who stupidly traded a cow for beans. In the story, Jack's character is motivated by what people think of him, and trying to impress people. All he wants is a companion. I think Jack's character is a metaphor for someone that one might call a "people-pleaser." I've known several people like that...and even I, myself, am like that at times. I try to prove myself by showing them what I can do, the golden harps I can steal, the giants I can slay, or the many things I have seen. When in all reality, it doesn't matter. the ones who love you will stay by your side...even when you're down. Jack finds his true friends in the end, and he's not as rich as he was before. I'm still learning that today. It's been a tough pill to swallow. Not everyone will remain by your side. Thankfully, God is always there to remind me that He is all I need.

Another thing about Jack is his desire for revenge. He wants to kill the steward for killing his mother (spoiler alert), and he wants to kill the giant for destroying the town. Revenge is something he thinks would satisfy him. However, the thing about revenge is that it is never satisfied. I'm learning that today too. I talk aimlessly about people who have hurt me, and I would love to see them hurt like I did...but really, what's the point? People make mistakes. We can't waste time seeing only our side. We need to just keep moving forward and forgive them. It's hard, but it's doable. You're not alone. Everyone has to fight this battle.

"People make mistakes, Fathers...Mothers...people make mistakes, holding to their own, thinking they're alone."

Prince Charming:

I relate to Prince Charming for obvious reasons, but that's beside the point. Ha, but in all seriousness, in the story, Prince Charming is the daring man who pursues Cinderella every time she runs from him. He blows her away at his charm, he is simply a dream. However, he is not sincere. Even though he acquired a wife, Cinderella, his eyes are not only on her...he has a wandering eye. Prince Charming is not Prince faithful, thus shattering the dream of perfection. His character is a metaphor for greed and lust. There have been many times that I have acquired something very desirable, and it has never been enough. I've always wanted more. Even at times, me having God hasn't been enough....when it should be. The love of God is a perfect dream, His acceptance of me is a dream. The fact that I wander away from Him for something temporary is shameful. The fact that I literally idolize my longing, and what I would love to have, is also shameful. This is another thing I'm still learning today. It's true, we need to cherish every moment life gives us...but we also need to acknowledge God. It is He who brings us life, and if we forget Him...we lose everything...no matter how rich we are.

Cinderella:

Cinderella is the kind young girl who humbly works for her family as a scullery maid under the direction of her late mother who always told her to be kind. Although she's been kind, her family has not been too responsive to it. They take advantage of her, because she can't speak up for herself. When she finally requests to go to the festival, they do not allow her. All Cinderella wants is a change from the life she has, and they won't allow it. When they leave, Cinderella visits her quiet place...a willow tree that grew from her mother's grave. There, she cries:

"I've been good and I've been kind mother, doing what I've learned from you. Why then am I left behind mother, is there something more that I should do?"

After she cries, her mother's spirit grants her one wish. Cinderella is then covered with silver and gold and is able to go to festival. Her presence at the festival ultimately is her key to escape the horrible life she had at her own home. You'd think that everything was "happily ever after" afterward, right? Wrong. Her prince cheats on her, her mother's grave is destroyed, and her hope is gone.

Cinderella, to me, is a metaphor of long-suffering.  Earlier this year, I had to deal with a ton of unforgiveness I had towards certain people. I was nothing but kind to the people at my church, and they stepped all over me, and they were never there for me. Even though they said they were...I never felt welcome. I was also nothing but kind to my non-Christian friends. Even they treated me like crap. So I was left thinking, "What's the point in being kind?" A friend of mine then told me, "Well, you could be mean....will that make things better?" I didn't want to become mean, and I didn't want to become bitter...and I saw that creeping in.

Another thing about Cinderella is her dream of a better life. Everyone has that to a degree, and I know that has been a thing for me this year. I've had many new opportunities this year to grow as an actor/performer...and I'm ready for a new step. I've been crying at my own willow tree, begging God for something more. Of course, unlike Cinderella, God doesn't just give me what I want right away....He has me think about whether or not I really need it or not. Cinderella quickly learned that being at the highest high wasn't what she really wanted, even though the idea seemed nice. Even though the longing is still in me and the anxiousness grows, I need to be patient and trust God and know He holds the answer to my questions.

Though things may not be all right, the hope I have is that God has things happen for a reason. What I need to do is keep seeking Him and trying my best to be kind despite how my life is.

I will end this very lengthy post with this small trinket of hope. I distinctly remember singing these words during my time in "Into the Woods." It is in the finale:

"Though it's fearful, though it's deep, though it's dark, and though you may lose the path, though you may encounter wolves (...)

So into the woods you go again, you have to every now and then

Into the woods, no telling when, be ready for the journey (...)

The way is dark, the light is dim, but now there's you, me, her and him

The chances look small, the choices look grim, but everything you learn there will help when you return there (...)

Into the woods you have to grope, but that's the way you learn to cope

Into the woods to find there's hope of getting through the journey

Into the woods, each time you go, there's more to learn than what you know ..."

There's so much life in these words. This gives me the hope that wherever I am in my life, that I will learn from it, and I will be ready whenever another hard time comes. Right now, I can say that I am in a deep, and dark part of the woods. I've been there many times, and it's never the same....but I've also come out alive....despite the wolf bites, the giants, and the seducing flowers. God says this life won't be easy, but what He also says is that He'll never leave our side. People will leave you stranded in the middle of the woods, that's happened to me countless times, but God has been there. I always ended up coming back to Him. Being in the woods taught me that when I don't know where to go, I don't need to stop walking....I need to keep going....eventually, I'll get out. That is, until...I have to go in again.

The Promise Behind Hard Times

The world is a very weird place. Not only is the earth a very noisy planet...but the way life on earth is can be a crazy ride. Lately in my life...I've seen lots of change, and lots of things come to an end. Shows have opened and closed, friends have come and gone (mostly gone), and lives of people I love have come to an end.

What's been the hardest thing for me to swallow is the fact that most of the things that have happened cannot be undone. I can't make the shows happen again. I can't make my friends come back into my life. I can't bring the dead to life. Though I wish with all of my heart that I could turn back time and do things differently...I can't. That's hard for a person like me, because the one question I hate answering is, "Now what?" I wish I had a definite answer, but most of the time I don't.

The question that I hate asking is, "Why?" Whenever I ask that....I never get a reason....I get a vague response...and I'm left trusting that whatever happened was for a reason. Just recently, a woman whom I dearly loved passed away unexpectedly. She was a teacher, a fellow believer, an encourager, a prayer warrior, and ultimately a mother and a grandmother. She was taken right before thanksgiving...which I can imagine was very tough for her family, whom have all been good friends to me.

I found myself a little upset. I was upset that this amazing woman of God, who had done nothing wrong...was taken so suddenly. While several others who are the most horrible people I have ever had the displeasure to know, receive nothing but good news. It makes me angry. It's not fair, and I know lots of people agree.

As I sat there, having my little tantrum...God manages to get a few words in. He always says, "Trust me. You know that I'm good. You know my words, yet you try to find ways to make me seem unfair. There are lessons to be learned and reasons why that you don't see yet. Trust me, and see that whatever happens, I never change."

Of course, I have my "but this..." and "but that..." and "but this person did this..." ....but I know deep down that truly God is good.

All good things come to and end...which guarantees that all bad things come to an end. We grieve for a while, we pout for a while, and we get mad for a while...but there will come a day where every moment will be filled with joy. We don't know when, but we can rest assured that it will come.

Remember, God is sovereign. He knows what's happening. He knows why you're sad, angry, or disappointed. So if He knows why, you can find comfort in that. He will lead you out of this, and into something new. He won't lie...or sell you short. He really is good.