Most people recognize Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus from the band ABBA and their musical hit, “Mamma Mia!” which was a…fine…musical…but what most people aren’t aware of is the gem of a musical masterpiece they completed in 1984 based on a concept album. With a book by the acclaimed Tim Rice, “Chess,” tells the story of a love-triangle that plays out in the midst of a Chess tournament by an American champion and a Russian challenger at the height of the Cold War. While the original West End production was well received in 1986, the subsequent 1988 Broadway production was a failure, based primarily on significant edits made to the script to prevent the American character from coming across so negatively. However, errors were recognized in this approach, and eventually, these edits were abandoned and the show has gone on to become someone of a cult-classic, including a 2009 live concert version including Adam Pascal (Rent), Idina Menzel (Rent, Wicked, Frozen), and Josh Groban (come on…you know who Josh Groban is…).
By the end of the first act, what was supposed to be a competitive match between two of the worlds best chess players has turned into secret plots and scandals by national leaders attempting to use their champions as puppets in political theatre. Upon finally winning the contest, Anatoly immediately leaves his own country of Russia in protest for their actions, resulting in a heartfelt lament mixed with a proclamation of faith and hope for his homeland. He defiantly sings his heart will never leave his home with the words, “No man, no madness, though their sad power may prevail, can possess, conquer, my country’s heart. They rise to fail
She is eternal. Long before nations’ lines were drawn, when no flags flew, when no armies stood, my land was born. And you ask me why I love her through wars, death, and despair? She is the constant, we, who don’t care. And you wonder will I leave her. But how? I cross over borders but I’m still there now!”
I was listening to the news earlier today, as so many are, as we seek to make sense of this novel coronavirus pandemic, and the dynamic voice of the Rev. William Barber offered this scripture from 2 Chronicles 7:14 in response to a question, “If my people who belong to me will humbly pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” Now, to be clear, he wasn’t saying we can pray the disease away or suggesting in any way that this crisis was caused by some inherent sinful nature in America. Instead, he was offering a prophetic challenge, stating that the church is now standing in a pivotal moment in the history of our nation, and the church has a unique opportunity to be the body of christ by offering compassion and mercy that people are so desperately seeking and not finding anywhere else, and carve out a different future, not only for this country that we love, but for all of God’s children.
Dear God, give us a courageous, prophetic faith to transform this nation into a land you would be proud to bless. A land of compassion, mercy, peace, justice, faith, love, and hope for all. Amen.
the harlequin complex 