11/08/2022
Victor Hugo wrote his classic, Le Miserables, in the 1850’s - based on many of his own exploits and also historical accounts of right and wrong in France and other countries. In the past 170 years it has become one of the greatest novels written.
I have been fortunate to see the amazing production of Les Miserables - both on stage and on the big screen.
It was wonderful to see a beautifully told story of crime and redemption; poverty and punishment; miserable living conditions and the disdain of the poor by the upper crust of society.
Finally, the continuation of love and concern is certainly a theme of the story.
__________
Just a few months ago thirteen year old Eli riding his bicycle home from the store was run down by a truck driven by a drunk driver. The driver left the scene dragging Eli’s crushed bike under his truck.
Eli was the only son of J_____ and L_____ both of whom we have known since the late 1990’s. His older sister, E_____, is the only surviving child in the family.
Like so many who have loved this family, we have pondered and wondered why God would allow such an accident to take the life of an innocent young man.
__________
One of the high points of Le Miserables is Jean Valjean’s rescue of the injured Marius - who becomes like a son to Valjean. Marius and his fellows are engaged in a continuing protest against the government and the unfair treatment of the lower class.
Jean Valjean who experienced both forgiveness and continuing oppression - focused his own efforts toward finding and preserving the life of young Marius.
My favorite is the song - “Bring Him Home” (written by Colm Wilkinson). It is a plaintive prayer from Valjean asking for the preservation of the life of young Marius.
It reminds me of the concerns we have had for our own children and grandchildren - and the prayers we have offered for continuing blessings.
God on high
Hear my prayer
In my need
You have always been there
He is young
He's afraid
Let him rest
Heaven blessed.
Bring him home
Bring him home
Bring him home
He's like the son I might have known
If God had granted me a son.
The summers die
One by one
How soon they fly
On and on
And I am old
And will be gone.
Bring him peace
Bring him joy
He is young
He is only a boy
You can take
You can give
Let him be
Let him live
If I die, let me die
Let him live
Bring him home
Bring him home
Bring him home.
Jean Valjean’s humble prayer cannot exceed the sincere prayers of Eli’s family. They may never fully know why their son had to die at the tender age of 13. Their love for him, however, will continue forever.
They know they will see him again. Perhaps they will meet a young man who has grown to manhood in the heavenly realm. They will run to each other - hug and kiss - and shed tears of joy. Their long separation will be over. The love they have known in this earthly sphere will be magnified many times over.
Perhaps then, the family along with the rest of us will understand more of God’s plan for each of us - and how adversity experienced is for our own eternal good.
___________
No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility.
All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God . . . and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven.”
Orson F. Whitney
