Dear God...

The Color Purple has long been known as my favorite movie. Without fail I cry every single time it graces the screen, and I'm not someone who is known for crying very often (I'm made of stone...remember). The story moves me in a way very few ever have. It’s about strength, heartache, survival, faith, the human spirit but most notably it’s a story of love. Love between sisters, love between friends, but most importantly the love you have for yourself. I once had a friend who had never seen it and I was so excited to share it with her…and she simply didn’t get it and my heart was broken. (No, we’re not friends anymore) Who wouldn’t be mesmerized by lines like these:

Shug: Yeah, Celie. Everything wanna be loved. Us sing and dance, and holla just wanting to be loved. Look at them trees. Notice how the trees do everything people do to get attention... except walk?

Celie: The jail you plan for me is the one you're gonna rot in.

Sophia: All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my uncles. I had to fight my brothers. A girl child ain't safe in a family of men, but I ain't never thought I'd have to fight in my own house!

Shug: See Daddy, sinners have souls too.

Celie: I'm poor, black, I may even be ugly, but dear God I'm here, I'm here!

While I have seen the movie well over a hundred times, I only recently bought the novel and have been reading it slowly chapter by chapter, savoring each word not wanting to reach the end. The musical opens in Chicago on April 19th and I will be taking Sister Stephanie for her 23rd birthday in May. In anticipation I recently downloaded the soundtrack on my iPod and have been amazed with what I've heard.

I recently had a talk with some of my girlfriends and found it difficult to articulate my faith and explain my self-esteem. These songs help to say it for me, The Color Purple and I’m Here:

The Color Purple

CELIE: God forgot about me!
SHUG: God takin' his time getting around to you, I admit, but look at all he give us. Laughin', and singin', and sex. Sky over our heads, birds singin' to us. I think it piss God off if anybody even walk past the color purple in a field and not notice it. He say, "look what I made for you."
CELIE: God just another man, far as I'm concerned, he triflin' and lowdown . . .
SHUG: No, Celie. God not some gloomy old man like the pictures you've seen of him.God not a man at all.
GOD IS INSIDE YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE
THAT WAS OR EVER WILL BE.
WE COME INTO THIS WORLD WITH GOD.
BUT ONLY THEM WHO LOOK INSIDE FIND IT.
GOD IS THE FLOWERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE
THAT WAS OR EVER WILL BE.
AND WHEN YOU FEEL THE TRUTH SO REAL,
AND WHEN YOU LOVE THE WAY YOU FEEL, YOU'VE FOUND IT
JUST AS SURE AS MOONLIGHT BLESS THE NIGHT.
LIKE A BLADE OF CORN,
LIKE A HONEYBEE,
LIKE A WATERFALL,
ALL A PART OF ME.
LIKE THE COLOR PURPLE,
WHERE DO IT COME FROM?
OPEN UP YOUR EYES,
LOOK WHAT GOD HAS DONE.
CELIE
DEAR GOD, DEAR STARS, DEAR TREES, DEAR SKY,
DEAR PEOPLES, DEAR EVERYTHING, DEAR GOD,
GOD IS INSIDE ME AND EVERYONE ELSE
THAT WAS OR EVER WILL BE.
I CAME INTO THIS WORLD WITH GOD
AND WHEN I FINALLY LOOKED INSIDE, I FOUND IT,
JUST AS CLOSE AS MY BREATH IS TO ME.

I’m Here

CELIE:
I'M GONNA SING OUT . . .SING OUT.
I BELIEVE I HAVE INSIDE OF ME
EVERYTHING THAT I NEED TO LIVE A BOUNTIFUL LIFE.
WITH ALL THE LOVE ALIVE IN ME
I'LL STAND AS TALL AS THE TALLEST TREE.
AND I'M
THANKFUL FOR EVERYDAY THAT I'M GIVEN,
BOTH THE EASY AND HARD ONES I'M LIVIN'.
BUT MOST OF ALL
I'M THANKFUL FOR
LOVING WHO I REALLY AM.
I'M BEAUTIFUL.
YES, I'M BEAUTIFUL,
AND I'M HERE.