Les Miserables

I am a huge musicals fan. Give me the option of going to the theatre to see anything I wanted, it would be a musical. And most likely, I would go to see my favourite musical. Les Miserables. So I’m sure you can imagine my excitement that this fantastic story has been put on film.

I was first taken to see Les Miserables when I was 7 years old. I must admit, I didn’t really follow the story, and fell asleep in the second act, but I immediately fell in love with the music, and a 15 year obsession began. I have seen the stage show a further 2 times (once in London, and again on the 25^th Anniversary tour) and watched the Anniversary DVD’s countless times. I now fully understand the story, appreciate the music ten times more, and try to share my enjoyment of the show with everyone around me. I even managed to read the book last year!

The key plot of the musical is the pursuit of a police officer of a convict over many decades. The musical starts with the convict (Jean Valjean) being released on parole by a police officer (Javert). Once Valjean is released, he finds it difficult to find work and is very bitter. A priest then offers him hospitality, but Valjean steals his silver and escapes before some local police officers catch him. The priest comes to Valjean’s aid, instead of condemning him, and says the silver was a gift, and even gives him more! This causes a deep change in Valjean, and he resolves to restart his life with a new identity, but always seeking to do God’s will.

Javert knows Valjean has broken his parole, and then becomes obsessed with finding him and bringing him to justice. The 2 characters meet numerous times in the musical, and while the audience can see the change in Jean Valjean, Javert remains convinced that a convict can not change and continuous to try to bring Valjean to justice.

I will leave the plot there, as I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who may be going to see the film.

This plot of redemption and condemnation speaks to me every time I see the show, and it can reflect experiences we encounter on a regular basis (although maybe not quiet so dramatically).

On the side of Jean Valjean there is a great story of redemption and change. He completely turns his life around and achieves great things. Without the conversion, many would have suffered and died. This speaks to us of the true transformative power God can bring into anyone’s life – God doesn’t only work in the ‘good’ people, but in the lives of the lowest of the low as well.

On the side of Javert there is a story of a man filled with prejudices the end up consuming his life. He refuses to admit that God can work the kind of transformation Jean Valjean has gone through, and when he finally faces that transformation, Javert can not cope. How often do we see people through the eyes of our prejudices? Do we admit they can change, and accept it when they do?

We must remember that God can do more than we can imagine. He works his transforming power in the lives of anyone and everyone, from the lowest of the low to the highest of the high, and we should accept and acknowledge these changes when they occur.

We were made to be courageous

Before Christmas, I took a day out of my schedule to focus on praying for the youth work in Anglia Division. I asked for prayer requests for young people, programmes, and corps (churches), and spent time praying for them and for the Divisional events in 2013. I also spent time listening to God to see what he wanted to say about the coming year.

I was listening to worship songs, and one song particularly spoke to me. It is called ‘Courageous’ and is by Casting Crowns (Video can be found at the end of this post). The lyrics that particularly stood out to me were:

We were made to be courageous,
and we’re taking back the fight.
We were made to be courageous,
and it starts with us tonight.
The only way we'll ever stand
is on our knees with lifted hands.
Make us courageous,
Lord make us courageous.

As I listened to this song, I felt that God was saying that 2013 is a year when we will need to be courageous; that there will be times in this year when we are going to have to stand up and be courageous in what we do. And this call to be courageous is not just for the divisional level youth work, it is also on a local and personal level as well.

 As we set out into the unknown of 2013, there are many things that are on our minds that we may think this call to courageous living relates, and there will be many other incidents that we can not yet foresee that will require courage. There will be times when we are unsure if we have that courage, but we need to remember to focus ourselves on God and let him help us in those moments.

The last sermon I heard in 2012 was also focused on the need to be courageous, affirming for me that this is what God is calling the young people of The Salvation Army in Anglia Division to be in 2013. The sermon focussed on Joshua 1, and encouraged us to be bold and courageous in the new year as God will be with us throughout it all, where we may go.

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
(Joshua 1:9)

We can also remember to wear the armour of God to give us courage.

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armour so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armour so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armour of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

(Ephesians 6:10 – 17)

This is not a year we are entering alone and cautiously. We should enter it wearing the armour of God, racing ahead to meet the challenges, and trusting God is by our side through it all.

I am planning to make these prayer days a regular feature of my work in 2013 so I can continue to pray for courage amongst the young people, youth leaders, and officers of Anglia Division, and I encourage you also to pray for those who you interact with, that they too will have courage for their daily lives this coming year.