RENT
Well, I can't sleep tonight, for two reasons. One, I took something like a five hour nap today...by accident. I knew I was tired, but yeesh. Second, I find out tomorrow if I got the job. So, I thought I'd write a bit. Yes, I realize I still need to write about the wedding and the honeymoon, and I will, but I'm just not in the mood tonight. So I'm going to write about my obsession with the musical RENT, in an attempt to explain it.
If you have ever ventured over to my myspace account, www.myspace.com/christianmelody8, you would have noticed that my backround, quote, and song are all from this musical. That's because I feel like RENT defines my view on life, love, and relationships...basically who I am and why I'm that way. Allow me to offer a brief synopsis to catch us all up.
RENT has 8 main characters, all very different. Three are white, four are black, one is of spanish descent, probably mexican. Four are straight, three are gay, and one is probably bi, though it never gets specific on this character, which I think is intentional. Two are well off, six are poor. Four have AIDS, four do not. They are intellectuals, they are artists, they are lovers, they are philanthropists, they are crossdressers, they are business people. They have good days, they have bad days, they have awful days. They each have their own weak points and strong points. But every single of them, despite their differences, are searching for meaning in their lives. They are trying to make a difference and to stand for what's right, which can be difficult when there's always the rent to worry about. It's also difficult amidst deadly disease, tough friendships, roller-coaster relationships, and the infectious American greed.
All of them, throughout the movie, come to realize the only thing worth living for is love. Everything else in the world is finite, heart-breaking, or corrupt. "Measure your life in love." Mark has a heart for the homeless, and chooses to quit a good job that exploits them in order to make a freelance documentary that reveals them. Roger wants to wait for his early death from AIDS alone in his apartment, even though the oppurtunity for love (Mimi) knocks on his door. Mimi is ready to love others, but can't figure out how to love herself. Maureen loves herself, but struggles to make sacrifices for the people she loves, especially Joanne. Joanne puts her love in action to achieve many successes, but fails at seeing Maureen for who she is, instead seeing who she wants to see. Benny is ready to love the people who love him, but not for anyone else, especially the homeless. Angel has it put together the best, loving who he/she is and loving others unconditionally, and teaches Collins how to do this as well. Angel and Collins live in a loving, healthy, passionate, relationship, until Angel's early death, which affects everyone differently.
We can all identify in some way with these characters, despite their race, religion, gender, or orientation. I identify with several of them in different ways. But despite all of their differences, they all realize (or are still learning) that love connects them all. It is what makes life worth living, no matter who you are. Nothing else matters. And that is what I believe as well.
I take it one step further. I believe that earthly love is great, but it pales in comparison to God's love. Whatever earthly love we can grasp was given to us by God, whether we realize that or not. It is good, but it is sooooo small and limited. God's love is limitless, unconditional, constant, and uncontainable. It is what the core of Christianity is all about...even though it seems like Christians forget this more often than they remember it. The characters in RENT don't see their differences...they see the love that connects them. We are all children of God, we are all connected by that love, even if some of us haven't accepted it yet. We need to choose to see that connecting love that is in each and everyone of us, no matter how well hidden. Sin, which are obvious walls of brick, easy to find and condemn, break us apart. Too many of us try to break down the walls ourselves, whether it be our own walls or others walls. Most of us fail. The ones who succeed are not thorough enough, and they build themselves back up faster than they broke down. We must alllow God to break through the brick walls of sin and stretch the unbreakable cord of love right through to all of us. Once connected, we can, as one, break down the walls and truly live with each other in Christ's love.
While the characters of RENT make no faith statements, and the assumption is that they are not religious, I think they get it more than a lot of Christians. They actually come to understand that love is the right and only way to live...they just try and do it themselves and have a hell of a time with it. And rightfully so, that's quite an ideal to achieve. Thank God we have help.
This message of love can be found many different places. But I like the way RENT presents it. It's raw, it's crude, it's realistic, it's emotional, it's frustrating, it's sad, it's honest. Life is rough, and RENT doesn't just not hide this fact, it amplifies it to the point that when love breaks through, it is a life boat when you are on the brink of drowning. And that is exactly what it is in real life. When I sing along with the heart-wrenching songs of RENT, I feel like they were written about my life. My problems, the ones I like to push to the back of my mind and ignore while I get on with "the important part of life" and focus on paying my rent, all come rushing forward and I am forced to acknowledge them and deal with them. And I am reminded, time and time again, of God's promise for my life and His never-ending, unconditional, all-consuming love.
There you go. The reason for my obsession. I hope you all get a chance to see RENT if you haven't already, and if you have, I hope you can see it with new eyes and take something away from it.
-Beth
This is the song I have on my myspace. It's called "What You Own". It's sung by Mark and Roger, and they are lamenting about the expectations of America, and really the world. They realize that we are defined by our material achievements and possessions, and during the song, they figure out exactly what they think of it and what they are going to do about it. I encourage you to read through the words, or just listen to it at my myspace. (I have bracketed off the parts that are part of the plot line of the musical. Cool to read, but probably won't mean much if you haven't see the musical. Feel free to skip them.)
"What You Own" by Jonathon Larson
MARK
Don't breathe too deep.
Don't think all day
Dive into work,
Drive the other way.
That drip of hurt.
That pint of shame
Goes away. Just play the game!
You're living in America
At the end of the millenium.
You're living in America,
Leave your conscience at the tone.
And when you're living in America
At the end of the millenium,
You're what you own.
[ROGER
The filmmaker cannot see.
MARK
And the songwriter cannot hear.
ROGER
Yet I see Mimi everywhere.
MARK
Angel's voice is in my ear.]
ROGER
Just tighten those shoulders.
MARK
Just clench your jaw 'til you frown.
ROGER
Just don't let go
BOTH
Or you may drown!
You're living in America
At the end of the millenium.
You're living in America
Where it's like the Twilight Zone.
And when you're living in America
At the end of the millenium,
You're what you own.
So I own not a notion.
I escape and ape content.
I don't own emotion - I rent!
MARK
What was it about that night?
ROGER
What was it about that night?
BOTH
Connection - in an isolating age.
For once the shadows gave way to light.
For once I didn't disengage...
[MARK
Angel - I hear you - I hear it
I see it - I see it
My film!
ROGER
Mimi I see you
I see it - I hear it - I hear it
My song!
MARK
Alexi - Mark
Call me a hypocrite,
I need to finish my own film.
I quit!
ROGER
One song - glory
Mimi
Your eyes]
BOTH
Dying in America
At the end of the millenium!
We're dying in America
To come into our own!
And when you're dying in America
At the end of the millenium..
You're not alone!
I'm not alone!
I'M NOT ALONE!!
If you have ever ventured over to my myspace account, www.myspace.com/christianmelody8, you would have noticed that my backround, quote, and song are all from this musical. That's because I feel like RENT defines my view on life, love, and relationships...basically who I am and why I'm that way. Allow me to offer a brief synopsis to catch us all up.
RENT has 8 main characters, all very different. Three are white, four are black, one is of spanish descent, probably mexican. Four are straight, three are gay, and one is probably bi, though it never gets specific on this character, which I think is intentional. Two are well off, six are poor. Four have AIDS, four do not. They are intellectuals, they are artists, they are lovers, they are philanthropists, they are crossdressers, they are business people. They have good days, they have bad days, they have awful days. They each have their own weak points and strong points. But every single of them, despite their differences, are searching for meaning in their lives. They are trying to make a difference and to stand for what's right, which can be difficult when there's always the rent to worry about. It's also difficult amidst deadly disease, tough friendships, roller-coaster relationships, and the infectious American greed.
All of them, throughout the movie, come to realize the only thing worth living for is love. Everything else in the world is finite, heart-breaking, or corrupt. "Measure your life in love." Mark has a heart for the homeless, and chooses to quit a good job that exploits them in order to make a freelance documentary that reveals them. Roger wants to wait for his early death from AIDS alone in his apartment, even though the oppurtunity for love (Mimi) knocks on his door. Mimi is ready to love others, but can't figure out how to love herself. Maureen loves herself, but struggles to make sacrifices for the people she loves, especially Joanne. Joanne puts her love in action to achieve many successes, but fails at seeing Maureen for who she is, instead seeing who she wants to see. Benny is ready to love the people who love him, but not for anyone else, especially the homeless. Angel has it put together the best, loving who he/she is and loving others unconditionally, and teaches Collins how to do this as well. Angel and Collins live in a loving, healthy, passionate, relationship, until Angel's early death, which affects everyone differently.
We can all identify in some way with these characters, despite their race, religion, gender, or orientation. I identify with several of them in different ways. But despite all of their differences, they all realize (or are still learning) that love connects them all. It is what makes life worth living, no matter who you are. Nothing else matters. And that is what I believe as well.
I take it one step further. I believe that earthly love is great, but it pales in comparison to God's love. Whatever earthly love we can grasp was given to us by God, whether we realize that or not. It is good, but it is sooooo small and limited. God's love is limitless, unconditional, constant, and uncontainable. It is what the core of Christianity is all about...even though it seems like Christians forget this more often than they remember it. The characters in RENT don't see their differences...they see the love that connects them. We are all children of God, we are all connected by that love, even if some of us haven't accepted it yet. We need to choose to see that connecting love that is in each and everyone of us, no matter how well hidden. Sin, which are obvious walls of brick, easy to find and condemn, break us apart. Too many of us try to break down the walls ourselves, whether it be our own walls or others walls. Most of us fail. The ones who succeed are not thorough enough, and they build themselves back up faster than they broke down. We must alllow God to break through the brick walls of sin and stretch the unbreakable cord of love right through to all of us. Once connected, we can, as one, break down the walls and truly live with each other in Christ's love.
While the characters of RENT make no faith statements, and the assumption is that they are not religious, I think they get it more than a lot of Christians. They actually come to understand that love is the right and only way to live...they just try and do it themselves and have a hell of a time with it. And rightfully so, that's quite an ideal to achieve. Thank God we have help.
This message of love can be found many different places. But I like the way RENT presents it. It's raw, it's crude, it's realistic, it's emotional, it's frustrating, it's sad, it's honest. Life is rough, and RENT doesn't just not hide this fact, it amplifies it to the point that when love breaks through, it is a life boat when you are on the brink of drowning. And that is exactly what it is in real life. When I sing along with the heart-wrenching songs of RENT, I feel like they were written about my life. My problems, the ones I like to push to the back of my mind and ignore while I get on with "the important part of life" and focus on paying my rent, all come rushing forward and I am forced to acknowledge them and deal with them. And I am reminded, time and time again, of God's promise for my life and His never-ending, unconditional, all-consuming love.
There you go. The reason for my obsession. I hope you all get a chance to see RENT if you haven't already, and if you have, I hope you can see it with new eyes and take something away from it.
-Beth
This is the song I have on my myspace. It's called "What You Own". It's sung by Mark and Roger, and they are lamenting about the expectations of America, and really the world. They realize that we are defined by our material achievements and possessions, and during the song, they figure out exactly what they think of it and what they are going to do about it. I encourage you to read through the words, or just listen to it at my myspace. (I have bracketed off the parts that are part of the plot line of the musical. Cool to read, but probably won't mean much if you haven't see the musical. Feel free to skip them.)
"What You Own" by Jonathon Larson
MARK
Don't breathe too deep.
Don't think all day
Dive into work,
Drive the other way.
That drip of hurt.
That pint of shame
Goes away. Just play the game!
You're living in America
At the end of the millenium.
You're living in America,
Leave your conscience at the tone.
And when you're living in America
At the end of the millenium,
You're what you own.
[ROGER
The filmmaker cannot see.
MARK
And the songwriter cannot hear.
ROGER
Yet I see Mimi everywhere.
MARK
Angel's voice is in my ear.]
ROGER
Just tighten those shoulders.
MARK
Just clench your jaw 'til you frown.
ROGER
Just don't let go
BOTH
Or you may drown!
You're living in America
At the end of the millenium.
You're living in America
Where it's like the Twilight Zone.
And when you're living in America
At the end of the millenium,
You're what you own.
So I own not a notion.
I escape and ape content.
I don't own emotion - I rent!
MARK
What was it about that night?
ROGER
What was it about that night?
BOTH
Connection - in an isolating age.
For once the shadows gave way to light.
For once I didn't disengage...
[MARK
Angel - I hear you - I hear it
I see it - I see it
My film!
ROGER
Mimi I see you
I see it - I hear it - I hear it
My song!
MARK
Alexi - Mark
Call me a hypocrite,
I need to finish my own film.
I quit!
ROGER
One song - glory
Mimi
Your eyes]
BOTH
Dying in America
At the end of the millenium!
We're dying in America
To come into our own!
And when you're dying in America
At the end of the millenium..
You're not alone!
I'm not alone!
I'M NOT ALONE!!