***Disclaimer…if you’re a parent currently self-isolating at home with your young children, or if you’re unfamiliar with this production, this particular video is safe…I can not say the same about any other songs or videos from the show…***
In perhaps the biggest recent shocker in the history of the Tony Awards, 2004’s “Avenue Q,” beat out the heavy favorite, Stephen Schwartz’s “Wicked,” for Best Musical. That statement becomes even more stunning when you realize that Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx’s “Avenue Q” is a bawdy, offensive, hyper-trigger-warning-esque comedy…starring puppets. A parody on the puppets of Sesame Street and the Muppets made famous by Jim Henson (fellow University of MD alumni…which means we were obviously friends…go Terps!…who would have won March Madness…if we were having March Madness…*le sigh*). The only difference is that, unlike on the aforementioned street of distinctly sesame flavoring, the “monsters” who live on “Avenue Q” sing songs like, “Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist,” “If You Were Gay,” “The Internet Is For Porn,” and, “You Can Be As Loud As The Hell You Want (When You’re Making Love).”
At this point, for those who didn’t already stop reading, I’m sure you’re wondering where I’m going with this and how I’m going to write a devotional about this musical. I am too, but I brought this challenge upon myself so here we go. The final song in the show is titled, “For Now,” which features the ensemble cast of humans, puppet monsters, and humans in puppet monster costumes (oh, and Gary Coleman) coming together recognizing that their collective problems probably aren’t as bad as they think, and that it’s still worth hoping for better tomorrows, singing, “Nothing lasts. Life goes on, full of surprises. You’ll be faced with problems of all shapes and sizes. You’re going to have to make a few compromises…for now…but only for now!” The cast goes on to conclude that it’s better to recognize and appreciate the simple joys in life, singing, “For now we’re healthy. For now we’re employed. For now we’re happy, If not overjoyed. and we’ll accept the things we cannot avoid, for now…”
The song reminds me of the poetic writing of Qohelet (traditionally believed to be King Solomon) found in the Hebrew Bible, “Ecclesiastes.” The author laments, “Perfectly pointless, says the Teacher, perfectly pointless. Everything is pointless. Some things are inevitable. What do people gain from all the hard work that they work so hard at under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains as it always has.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2-4) However, despite referring life as nothing but a “vapor” or fleeting like the “wind” or completely “pointless” throughout the twelve recorded chapters in the scroll, the sage does ultimately agree that life is still worth living, stating, “Send your bread out on the water because, in the course of time, you may find it again. Give a portion to seven people, even to eight…Scatter your seed in the morning, and in the evening don’t be idle because you don’t know which will succeed, this one or that, or whether both will be equally good…Sweet is the light, and it’s pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. 8 Even those who live many years should take pleasure in them all.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1-2,7-8)
Dear God, when life is hard, when unexpected troubles come our way, when all of our labor and hard work seems pointless, remind us that the abundant life you offer is worth living. Teach us to find great joy in the simple things in life. Give us gratitude for all that we have and all that you have done and continue to do for us. Lead us to life-everlasting. Amen.
the harlequin complex 