I admit it, the first time around, I didn’t get the Phantom of the Opera. Maybe I saw it too early – I was only twenty five, life hadn’t knocked me down yet, and I couldn’t imagine a world of desperation such as the Phantom of the Opera portrays. I saw the phantom as dark, and tortured, unlovable and frightening.
That’s the point, I realized, as I sat with my family last weekend and saw it again (this time sobbing). He feared the world would see him as those twisted things – not as the man who created the beautiful music. As I sat there dripping tears onto my dress, I realized that the reason the Phantom touches me (and the rest of the world) so is the comradery we find with the character. Not that we are so depraved in our souls, but the route that led him to his darkness started with the simple desire to be loved. The Phantom, despite his crimes, longs to be loved despite his ugliness – for the beauty he can offer. This desire runs through everyone. We want people to look beyond the outside to the creature within, as the Phantom says Fear can turn to love – you’ll learn to seeto find the man behind the monster.
The fact is, this story isn’t new – it’s age old, from the day Peter recognized Jesus as a holy man and exclaimed, “Get away from me, for I am a sinful man!” We know the unlovely, masked parts of ourselves, and shy away, hiding in the darkness.
I wrote a book a few years ago called Flee the Night – it’s a story of the ways we hide in darkness, afraid that, in the light of day, Christ won’t love us because of our ugliness. I used a metaphor of a dungeon, the kind found in medieval times – and the picture of Christ walking into that dungeon to pull us to freedom. It’s not just a metaphor, either.
Isaiah 61 says that He [the Sovereign Lord] has sent me [Jesus] to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…
I guess it’s on my mind because I’m headed off to Europe in a couple weeks to do a book tour for Flee the Night. I’m overwhelmed at the generosity of the European publisher who is sending me on this fun tour – and thinking…do they know that I spend most of my time in my pajamas, in a house that isn’t always clean? I’m like a phantom, wanting to hide my “uglies.” But grace says that YES, God looks past the outside, has found something of value within. I need to stop questioning it. Embrace it. Flee the night.
Wow, I’m so thankful there is love for the Phantom. At least in my version of the musical…
My son graduates from high school in a week! Unbelievable! And we spent a wonderful week with his girlfriend who surprised him with a visit for Prom!
I’ll be back from Europe in time to host the Sugar Party. I hope to see you there!
And thank you to all who wrote and told me they enjoyed Nothing But Trouble! I’m finishing up Trouble 3 even now. Oh, that PJ, she’s just getting started!
Thank you for reading!
In His Grace,
Susan May Warren