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A Couple Lessons from "Into the Woods"

As many of you know, I am currently getting to participate in the pit band for one of our local community college's production of Into the Woods.

At first I just thought myself in way over my head, but I have settled down, learned to let it go when I make a mistake and move forward. I am to the point of really enjoying having the opportunity to do this.

If you don't know the story, it is a mix of different fairy tales, look it up on Youtube, or someplace, I am not going through the whole thing here. There are a couple of things that happen in it that really make me think though and that is what today's devo is about.

One of the main stories is Rapunzel. The witch has locked Rapunzel in a high, doorless tower. We learn through one of my favorite songs, that the witch is really trying to protect Rapunzel from the world.

She sings that "Princes wait there in the world, it's true/Princes, yes, but wolves and humans, too/Stay at home, I am home/Stay a child while you can be a child, with me."It is one of those moments that probably touches every parent. It is our instinct to protect our children and it would be easier to do if they didn't have to face all the other things of the world. This is one of those places where as a parent, I always struggle, and still do. My grandmother always said you don't know what worrying about your kids is until they are old enough to get away from you. I understand that perfectly now. So many influences and you have to trust that your teaching has been good enough but faced with the world around them, I have to go back to wondering if I was over my head then too.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 says And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

 This same song continues in the end of the musical, with the worlds changed to "Careful the things you say/Children will listen/Careful the things you do/Children will see and learn/Children may not obey, but children will listen/Children will look to you for which way to turn/To learn what to be/Careful before you say, 'Listen to me.'"

That is one of my favorite songs in the play, and something that I feel is very valuable to learn. Please remember, actions truly do speak louder than words and children do listen, and watch.

My other favorite song in the musical is after great tragedy has struck and four of the main characters have lost people they loved.

Some of the lyrics are
 Mother cannot guide you./ Now you're on your own./Only me beside you.
Still, you're not alone. /No one is alone. Truly./No one is alone.
Sometimes people leave you./Halfway through the wood.
Others may deceive you./You decide whats good.
You decide alone./But no one is alone.

We truly are never alone, God promises to be there with us, no matter what. This always reminds me of the little blurb on the radio station I listen to. "If you are feeling far away from God, it wasn't Him who moved".

Hebrews 13:5 says: Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 So, little lessons from Into the Woods. I have learned alot about myself the past 6 weeks, two weeks ago, I was gone every night to practice, and I survived it better than I thought I would. I also prepared for it though, and things went pretty well as planned.

Tonight is the last night of the play, 7:00 at LTC in Robinson, if you want something to do, come on over!

And even though the movie sounds a little different from the play, there is a review on focus on the family's PluggedIn here.

And straying just a bit off the path of a Christian song, I am leaving you with a song from Into the Woods that has both songs I spoke of in it. Please remember this is the Broadway production though, so things are a bit different in ours at Robinson. (if you hear the flute part though, it is the same, and also some of my favorite parts!)









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