This weekend, Jim played Sparafucile in Rigoletto. The opera deals with a man who plays a jester to a Duke, and is ridiculed for his humped back. Rigoletto hates the Duke because of his womanizing, and hides the fact that he has a daughter. Meanwhile, his daughter falls in love with the Duke and then sacrifices herself to save her love. The person who pays the assassin is Rigoletto. In essence, he killed the one thing he truly loved quite literally. Sparafucile stabs the girl and places her in a bag. Jim was a convincing killer, but the role was a dark one, understandably.
It brings to mind how we, through our actions, kill the hopes and dreams of those who surround us at times. We can neglect them, we can be selfish, we can withhold our love. All of these destructive behaviors destroy the souls and esteem of others.
It, to me, is the most difficult thing to master. Learn to love completely, as Jesus Christ did. Learn to accept those who are different and flawed, because we are no better than they. We are just as hopelessly flawed. Were it not for the atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we would all live in a hopeless state. The question really becomes, will we be self-defeating as Rigoletto, or will we give our lives selflessly to help others like Gilda.
I know…who could find something spiritual in an opera. But, it struck me. We can be the Sparafucile, stabbing the innocent; or we can be selfless, like Gilda.
Just a thought…
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