Wednesday, November 2, 2005

All right, the book and the play are different. Not completely...but definitely different. I like the book more in some ways and less in some ways. Mostly more, perhaps. ^_^

The characters in the book are more human. In a play, they have much less time, and they took the characters and kinda simplified them. It's still a great play, especially if you don't want to read the very...long...book. Of course, I skipped a lot. It's the unabridged version. :S In some ways, the book's less simply-defined characters are better that way, in my opinion. In some ways not. I'll try to look at one character per post.

Let's start with the main character, Jean ValJean. In the play, once he is redeemed, he only really has one time where he really struggles with himself to do what's right--a point where he must give himself up to the police or allow another man to be arrested in his place.

In the book, he has two other times after that moment where he must choose to do what he wants to do, or what is right. In reading the book, it is easy to think, "Come on, isn't this overdoing it? He's a good guy, he's committed himself to doing what's right." At least, I did. But then again, these incidents are close together, but long after the first one mentioned. Also, I have felt times of similar difficult conflict. It isn't as dramatic as some of his situations (at least the first) but it is still important, essential, to my soul and well-being. To my salvation.

His deliberation over whether or not to let the police know that he is Jean ValJean, not the man wrongly arrested, is a lengthy section. For ValJean, it actually occupies days. But it was something I could relate to. "Is this what I should do? Well, what about this factor, though? Yes, that's right. Well, but maybe..." It is a personal crisis, to follow the light or to fall into darkness.

But ValJean keeps choosing the right. Not always. He isn't perfect. But in the most vital moments, he does. May we do the same and learn from him.

All good stories teach us about life in some way. How to live, why we do what we do, what is right and wrong, the consequences of both. "People need stories more than bread itself. They teach us how to live, and why." It is true.

Remember, Jesus Christ taught in parables. They were symbolic stories. Who could read the symbols? The spiritually ready.

Follow Him.

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Alma 26:11-12

But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

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The righteous are God's people in the end--but we are all His children, and He wants us all to be His people. It is our choice. Let us help each other, and seek and accept His help.

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Fact of the day: Did you know that water has the power to break stones? Okay, water with heat or cold. Rocks--either wet or with water in them, I think--can explode if they get too hot. And stones with cracks in them can be forced apart by water that gets between the two sides, freezes and expands, then melts out...leaving a larger opening for more water to enter, to freeze in, to melt.... You get the idea. ^_^
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