Theology on Broadway

Yesterday began a week of vacation in Manhattan. Vacation or no, I swear I can never seem to escape the invitation to reflect on the ongoing adventure of relationship with God. Some of those thoughts are posted here, since Tuesdays I chime in over at the Mainstream Baptists Blog Site.

But I think I’ll drop in here to say that all of these thoughts on fear and faith, relationship and inclusion came together again for me last night when we got great tickets to see the musical RENT on Broadway.

I’ve never seen RENT, only heard ominous stories of its risqué nature (even more reason to line up, ahem!).

RENT was gritty, troubling, difficult to watch . . . but on our way back to where we’re staying Mark and I talked for awhile about the universal need we all have to be loved, whether you live in a parking lot or a penthouse apartment on 5th Avenue.

And, what matters in the end is the part we play in each other’s lives.

So, in honor of lessons learned on Broadway last night, here are the lyrics from the RENT soundtrack single, Seasons of Love:

525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear.

525,600 minutes – how do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.

In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.

In 525,600 minutes – how do you measure a year in the life?

How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love. Seasons of love. 1525,600 minutes! 525,000 journeys to plan. 525,600 minutes – how can you measure the life of a woman or man?

In truths that she learned, or in times that he cried. In bridges he burned, or the way that she died.

It’s time now to sing out, tho the story never ends let’s celebrate remember a year in the life of friends.

Remember the love! Remember the love! Remember the love!

Measure in love. Seasons of love! Seasons of love.