The Tangent College
Hello Colleagues,
As the Monty Python line goes, “and now, for something completely different.” This week I’ve been rather dreamy and disconnected. I did feel very connected however earlier in the week when I read The Lively Letter which is Scott Lively’s newsletter that comes in the mail for those who subscribe. I encourage everyone to do so which you can do here. You will be blessed. I tried to finish this email on Friday morning as usual but the ideas were not flowing fast enough. But I hope you can take the time to read it now that I have gotten it done.
I also receive Scott Lively’s emails which you can sign up for free in the same place. In a recent email he sent this link to the truly wonderful and moving theme song from Man of La Mancha, “The Impossible Dream” which here is beautifully sung by Brian Stokes Mitchell who portrays a character that is both humble and yet forthright. I love the gleam in his eye and the shuffling movements, along with the inflection in his voice, of a gentle old man determined to be a great knight of valor. I ended up listening to it three times straight – it is that good. Click on the picture below and enjoy.
This type of Christian character is not taught in the highly feminized and soft, childlike and protected Christian church where there is no great impossible quest but only promises of comfort and insipid music.
As Scott lively puts it, “I confess to becoming increasingly emotional with age and in response to the collapse of the Christian civilization my entire post-salvation life has been dedicated to restoring and preserving. I’m frequently awash in sadness and melancholy these days as all my layers of macho emotion-shielding armor get eaten away by the acidic reality of our time and I am left with just my love of Jesus Christ and my family and friends to keep me focused on the impossible task of fighting “the unbeatable foe.” (Reassured in Christ that we do win in the end – but only after ruination.)” – I can only say that I relate so much to this sentiment as I too am an older Christian. And so too is Don Quixote. And in a similar way we all three appear out of touch and at times overly fantastical and yet we find solace in our quest and our dreams. This is how it is with my music as well, which is my quest that I will continue once again when I get my studio finished regardless of the impossible dream of people being moved by the artistic songs I write.
And now allow me to become even more personal here as I followed the link of the next suggested song “Memory”
which, like Don Quixote above is brilliantly acted and sung to perfection by Elaine Paige. This is the performance that you must watch. Although the message here in the play Cats is distinctively humanistic (no pun intended) I found this to be an incredibly poignant and melancholy song that I couldn’t get out of my head for many days. As with The Impossible Dream, it deals with the emotion and urgency of growing old. But in contrast to Don Quixote who represents the aged man determined to follow his quest regardless of the consequences and thus is the quintessential masculine expression; Grizabella represents the aged female with whom, whether you are male or female, one can share her angst as well as her hope for the future as “Look, a new day has begun”. Both can bring a tear to your eye in different ways. “Memory” I watched many times back to back.
The more I think about it the more I am seeing the perfect contrast between masculine and feminine in these two perfectly performed thematic pieces. Both are different and yet both are valid. The man, even though he is old and growing feeble, maintains his quest. The woman, though she has lost her former beauty, sees hope for a future where beauty will once again return.
Don Quixote’s quest is the search and restoration of holiness, chivalry; to scorn and conquer unrighteousness which is generally the sphere of man. It is an individualistic quest which is less concerned with the needs of people than it is with the purpose and will of God. It is a vertical quest that seeks the objective truth regardless of the weakness of human emotion and fear. And yet there is emotion there, and a great amount of it. But the emotion is spent on seeking perfection and experiencing its profound joy once found – like the pearl of great price. ““Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matt 13:45 It is a man’s quest “to follow that star no matter how hopeless, no matter how far”
But again, it does not really matter whether you are a man or woman in order to appreciate this masculine quest. My wife, for example, would be more moved by Don Quixote’s quest then Grizabella.
In contrast, Grizabella’s “quest” is quintessentially female in that she seeks relationship and understanding from others who have shunned her as she is no longer young and attractive. It is distinctly social as her heart cries out “touch me! It’s so easy to leave me! All alone with my memory of my days in the sun” (she does not want to be left alone while Don Quixote seeks it) “if you touch me then you’ll know what happiness is…” Her wish is then fulfilled as she is touched by a younger cat and it gives her comfort and joy.
Although this is feminine in its nature, we can all share in this emotion and sadness as we lose the vibrancy and agility of youth. And as we approach our end, we seek the companionship and approval of our family and friends. Even for the righteous this unknown can be terrifying. It is at this point that we must close our eyes and trust in Jesus to lead us into a new day. It is the woman that clings to Jesus after he had risen.
This difference between men and women is what creates the political and ideological right and left. Right wing ideologies, from the individualistic vertical nature of man and left wing ideologies have their genesis in the social and horizontal nature of woman. This is a foundational element in my political/religious spectrum. Neither the man nor the woman is more evil or more good than the other. Socialism and Marxism are begotten from the feminine while monarchy (individual power) and theocracy (legalism) are begotten of the masculine. True liberty and life are found in the perfect balance between male and female and in recognizing and amplifying what they do best in harmony with each other.
Both myself (in both pieces) and Scott Lively (The Impossible Dream) see it, as he puts it here:
The Cure for Gender Dysphoria
The Impossible Dream captures in its sparse poetic lines and masterful delivery the romantic essence of masculinity that impels “the duty, nay, the privilege…of each true knight.” Every adolescent boy struggling to find his sense of purpose in the world should be shown this clip – and also every “empowerment-poisoned” girl being lured by faux-masculine feminism into competition with boys, rather than cultivating herself to become one honorable man’s most precious reward (the true hope of Grizabella) for strength and virtue (to her own life-long blessing).
And …that “chivalry,” the overarching theme of Miguel de Cervantes’ literary masterpiece, only has meaning in the context of binary heterosexual normalcy and the distinctly separate and complimentary roles God has given to men and women. Culturally-speaking, long-suppressed and nearly forgotten romantic chivalry would be, if revived, a powerful cure for gender dysphoria in both boys and girls. And this video all by itself could be a life-saving dose of that desperately needed medicine for this generation….
Please take the time to watch these wonderful musical pieces and enjoy. It would be interesting to know your own personal favorite. I think I enjoyed them equally. I think I’ll listen again.
Thanks for reading and thanks for listening. Next week we will once again do “something completely different” – maybe, as the Lord leads.
In the meantime, follow the path of righteousness, embrace the quest with “your last ounce of courage”, touch someone who needs love, but be warned, stay far from the camp the Covidites.
Bill Ward