Les Miserables

Last night we were privileged to see the movie Les Miserables at a nearby show. I've seen an older version on a Classic Television Station, but this was on a "big screen" with color and action that enlivened its effectiveness. These were the insight of another time, the 1800's, in a place far away, but yet, somehow not much different than what is being experienced today. Immediately, I thought of our Bible Study Class, where we learned the meaning of brokenness, being born into this world of sin, death and destruction. And armed with the decision of "free choice," we choose to become like Christ, walking in the Light, no matter how hard that is, or to choose the darkness, where there is no hope. The end of the movie was most telling. The father of the young bride, was not present at her wedding, having fleed to prevent his daughter from finding out about his life in prison, which would have been too shameful to bare.He returned to a convent. She learns of his whereabouts through the identification of a "stolen ring" which was her husband's, now having the understanding that it was her father infact, who was the one who saved his life. Initially, he was imprisioned for stealing a small piece of bread for his sister's hungry son. Nineteen years of torture was not enough as he was forced to carry "papers" which would not allow anyone to trust him enough to give him food or lodging, or a way to earn money to sustain him. A priest changed his lot, offering him food and shelter, to which he repaid him by stealing his goods. Upon being caught,the enforcers of the law, brought him to the priest to make formal charges against him. Instead, in a life changing act, the love,and generosity of the priest, showed him kindness, offering the thief two more candlesticks saying that he "gave" the items to him, without expectation. The thief is "transformed" from bitter, and hateful, having been overwhelmed by the priests words and acts of kindness, as he placed an invisible sign of the cross on the former prisioners head. He sought repentance, from God to do good. In the end, he was called by someone a "saint." The priest earmarked him for Christ,by forgiving him and hoped that he would live to make a difference in an evil world. And, although he was constantly being chased to be returned to hard labor for tearing up his "papers" and failing to appear as ordered, he managed to escape. A young, mistreated lady of the night,lay sick and dying was given care in his charge. She sold her hair, and had teeth removed in order to have support money for her illegitimate child. He raised her only daughter as his own after her death. He was able to put people to work by running a business. He saved a man from being imprisioned in his place, by disclosing his true identity, at great risk to himself, by his revelation as the former prisioner. He released the one person who wanted him to suffer, who chased him without mercy, and lived to destroy him. This, a law abiding man, had been captured by the revolutionaries of that day, who were tired of being poor and hungry, while the rich rode around in carriages, indulged in luxury and endless parties, while the masses went without. Engaging them in battle proved fruitless-- being outnumbered and having superiority of weaponry. It was shocking to see the soldiers kill an innocent child. The freedom of the law enforcer, was unappreciated and was short-lived, as he, like the tormented Judas, jumped to his end, giving true freedom to the former prisioner. The father who laid dying, saw the child in heaven with the many maryters who attained their peace--the only source of hope for any generation. And in his joy, the bitterness, pain and sufferings have all been wiped away. Those who now grieve, know the love of a man that they called father. He will be remembered as one, although overshadowed by grief, illumined a world of darkness by his love.