Monday, June 13, 2016

History Has Its Eyes On You

"History Has Its Eyes On You" is one of the most thought-provoking (reflective) songs from the new musical Hamilton.

And while there is an advisory content warning on the album, this song and its companion, "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story" are both free from profanity.

(Three other songs I'd recommend--easily recommend to one and all--are "Dear Theodosia," "Stay Alive Reprise," and "It's Quiet Uptown.")  If you want the song about the duel, it's "The World Was Wide Enough." (And it is also free from profanity.)

I think both phrases "who lives, who dies, who tells your story" and "history has its eyes on you" are central themes in the musical, and offer up much food for thought. These phrases prove both haunting and inspiring.

Haunting because it is a sobering thought that history has its eyes on you. That you matter, that the choices you make matter, that you are--for better or worse--influencing (impacting) others. Are you living life in a way that matches or lines up with how you want to be remembered? Character is formed by our actions and not only our words. We may have ideals of how we want to be remembered, ideals of what we believe. But how we'll be remembered by others is a matter of actions big and small. That's not to say words aren't important. But words need to be supported and not contradicted by our actions.

Inspiring because it is in many ways life affirming to know that you matter, that there is purpose and significance in living life.

It isn't just Alexander Hamilton or George Washington's lives that matter. Our lives matter. Every single person matters. Every single person has worth and value.

One can definitely walk away from the song with a few meaning-of-life questions. For example, what am I doing with my life? Am I wasting my life? How should I be living my life? I think questions like this could be a good thing, a good opportunity.

But here's a more sobering thought. It isn't history that has its eyes on you, it's God. And your life--every word, every thought, every action--is known by God and will be judged by God. Your life story is known and will be 'published' if you will on the day of judgment.

The time to think about these 'eternal' matters is here and now. Because it is only in the here and now--today--that we have the opportunity to seek God while He may be found.
And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. Proverbs 21:2
Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

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