Hope (Friday Favorite)

I only have one “Friday Favorite” this week…HOPE.

I was feeling down emotionally about what has been going on in the news and in our country. I don’t watch the news. (Visuals stick in my mind forever.) Unfortunately, reading it was more than enough this week. The “in your face” nature of social media is both a blessing and a curse so I needed to unplug in order to recompose myself yesterday. Fortunately, I had plans to go see Broadway in Bryant Park – one of the things listed in the 15 Best Free Concerts in NYC in the Summer post.

It was great to get away for a bit and enjoy one of my favorite things (Broadway shows) outside in the park. The cast of STOMP, which I saw several years ago when Savion Glover was in it, performed several pieces. Then, songs from two musicals that I have not seen yet, Wicked The Musical and Matilda The Musical, were performed. Some of the cast of The Color Purple performed a few songs to end the showcase. I saw The Color Purple on Broadway many year ago but the last song, “The Color Purple,” still brought tears to my eyes because of it’s message of hope:

“And when I finally looked inside, I found it,
Just as close as my breath is to me.
Rising . . . . . . . . .
Like the sun
Is the hope that sets us free”

Hope (plus ACTION) is so powerful. “The Color Purple” song was just what I needed to hear. Later that night as my family prayed together, I was once again reminded to be hopeful as my youngest son Sean prayed, “And please help us to focus on the good, not the bad…and to remember that you (God) are still in control.” From the mouth of kids…