My next door neighbor and I went to see the Broadway musical production of The Color Purple on Sunday afternoon. I LOVE Broadway musicals, but I had no idea what to expect of this play. After all, the story is not exactly light fare. A young woman, raped by the man she believes to be her father and giving him two children by the age of 14, babies who he takes away immediately and gives to others; basically sold in marriage to a man she knows only as Mister, who beats and abuses her and calls her ugly and separates her from her younger sister whom she fiercely loves; etc. (You probably saw the movie, right?)
While this wouldn't be one of my most favorite Broadway musicals, I did enjoy it a great deal. It made me laugh and hurt and, in the end, rejoice.
About midway through, I was brought unexpectedly to tears by the song, Too Beautiful for Words. It's sung by Shug to Celie, who has always believed that she's ugly, just as Mister has told her hundreds of time. Here are some of the lyrics:
I DANCED WITH DUKES, CROONED WITH COUNTS,
BEEN COURTED LIKE A QUEEN.
BUT WHEN I SEE WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART,
ALL THE REST IS BLURRED.
THE GRACE YOU BRING INTO THIS WORLD'S
TOO BEAUTIFUL FOR WORDS.
YOU HIDE YOUR HEAD UNDER YOUR WING
JUST LIKE A LITTLE BIRD.
OH, DON'T YOU KNOW YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL,
TOO BEAUTIFUL FOR WORDS?
I have many friends who bring grace into this world because of their relationship with Christ, a grace that is too beautiful for words. I want to make a point of telling them.
~robin
