les mis and easter

so the day after Les Miserables came out on dvd, i was all over that baby. drake had promised to watch it with me for the first time, if only from the comfort of his own couch. and i've anxiously been waiting for the chance to own my own copy. 

as it's the easter season, and i've been thinking about my savior, jesus christ, and the atonement. i've been having spiritual thoughts of gratitude for the gospel, and especially for my knowledge of this gospel. i shudder to think of who i'd be without the governing light of the gospel in my life. without the sweet knowledge that i am a child of God, and loved as a child is loved by her great and eternal Father. i think of jesus christ, the only perfect and sinless man to ever walk the earth (really if you think of all the teeny tiny sins people commit every single day... this is amazing to imagine a being without a single sin)... i think of this perfect man being tortured for us, for me, wearing a crown of thrones... bleeding from every pore... and all completely willingly and for me. i think of the perfect example of humble submission and selflessness. and because of that atonement for us, for me, we have the ability to be saved and return to our Father. with faith, we can repent and be forgiven. we can draw nearer to God, we can develop those desires to be more christlike. we can be happy, truly happy. the real happiness that lasts forever, even through sorrow and hard times. i am so grateful for these things.

now back to les mis, as drake and i were watching it in our living room, i was thinking of one of the main reasons i love the story soo much is because of the spiritual themes. of turning to God and finding peace and happiness in repentance. of living a life dedicated to helping others and putting God's commandments first. of service and sacrifice. of love and family and freedom. of turning your life around through Christ. of prayer. i could go on and on, and as i'm writing this song lyrics are jumping around in my head. the story is not known as a happy story, there is no happy ending. but there is a triumphant blaze that powers through my emotions. and yes, at the end of the movie, i feel a strong spiritual feeling. i think that's why to me, it's my favorite production. i feel the most from it. 

Do you hear the people sing

Lost in the valley of the night? 

It is the music of the people 

who are climbing to the light. 

For the wretched of the earth

there is a flame that never dies. 

Even the darkest night will end 

and the sun will rise. 

We will live again in freedom 

in the garden of the Lord. 

We will walk behind the ploughshare; 

We will put away the sword. 

The chain will be broken 

and all men will have their reward. 

Will you join in our crusade? 

Who will be strong and stand with me?

Somewhere beyond the barricade

is there a world you long to see?

Do you hear the people sing? 

Say, do you hear the distant drums? 

It is the future that we bring

 when tomorrow comes!

so i guess in some weird way, i've been enjoying my easter reflection with a little bit of les mis :)