Thursday, March 6, 2025

Unexpected Joy    

Read: Galatians 5:22-25

My daughter asked me to go with her to see the musical “The Color Purple.” She said that it was one of her favorite musicals and that she wanted to share it with me. Of course I agreed to go, but I can’t say that I was thrilled. The only thing I knew about “The Color Purple” was that it was a depressing movie, and I wasn’t in the mood for depressing. To make matters worse, I had just gotten over a bout of COVID and was not feeling up to par on the night of the production. 

Boy was I surprised when the play started with booming gospel singing – my favorite. But even more surprising was the message that the music beautifully conveyed. The story, told through the music, was one of faith, hope, and love. 

For those of you who don’t remember “The Color Purple” – or have never been introduced to it – the story centers on Miss Celie, a black woman from the Jim Crow South. We watch as Miss Celie is abused by her stepfather, married off against her will to a man who beats her regularly, and separated from her sister – the only person who has shown her love. Therefore, it stands to reason that Miss Celie questions whether there is a God!! She tells her new friend, Shug, about her lack of faith, and Shug answers her with a song:

God is inside you and everyone else
That was or ever will be.
We come into this world with God.
But only them who look inside find it.
God is the flowers and everything else
That was or ever will be.
And when you feel the truth so real,
And when you love the way you feel, you've found it
Just as sure as moonlight bless the night.
Like a blade of corn,
Like a honeybee,
Like a waterfall,
All a part of me.
Like the color purple,
Where do it come from?
Open up your eyes,
Look what God has done.

AND TO THIS I SAY, AMEN!!!

Jan Versical