Les Miserables

So, I am a theater girl!  I love plays and musicals, and have been in several over the course of my life.  My favorite musical of all time is Les Miserables.  When I tell people that, some of them are surprised.  It is a sad story with a lot of death, and tortured souls. Let me tell you why it is my favorite.

It is a story about forgiveness and redemption.

For those who don't know the story, I will try to do a quick sum up.

The main character is Jean Valjean, a french man who stole a loaf of bread, ran from the law, and was in jail for 19 years.  When he is released on Parole, his parole officer Javert lets him know that he (Javert) will always be there, waiting for him to make a mistake.
Because of the kindness of a priest, Jean Valjean creates a new identity, and completely changes his life. 10 years later he is the mayor of the town he lives in, Javert is the new Inspector, and doesn't notice him right away.  One of the workers in Jean Valjean's warehouse gets thrown out on the streets, and becomes a prostitute to support her child, and becomes sick.  Jean Valjean comes across her at one of her lowest points, rescues her and gets her to a hospital, but it is too late.
Jean Valjean collects her daughter, Cosette, from and innkeeper and his wife, and raises her on his own, all of this time on the run from Javert.
Cosette is grown, falls in love with a man headed of to fight for the French Revolution named Marius. Jean Valjean ends up fighting alongside Marius to protect him.  In doing so, he has an opportunity to seek revenge on Javert.  Instead, Jean lets him go. While Jean is carrying Marius to safety, he is confronted by Javert, and Javert lets him go, because he sees all the good Jean has done in his life for others.  He doesn't know what to do with that information.
The play closes with Jean Valjean's death, and him being taken up to heaven by Cosette's mother, Fontine, and the kind priest.

That is a very summarized version of the story, but we see how the kindness of one man, changed that man into a person who could help save so many other people in one form or another. We have no idea of the impact we have on people's lives, and this musical is a wonderful reminder of that.  The music is beautiful, an the story powerful!

Embrace your awesomeness!  Change people's lives for good!  Know that you are amazing, and powerful, and wonderful!  I am grateful for the many people that have come into my life and changed mine for the better!

I am going to close this post with a video of Jean Valjean's prayer to save Marius at one point while they are in battle. This version is sung by the amazing Alfie Boe!  Enjoy!

All my love,
Shae