Frozen

 I’ve only seen the movie once.

Before I saw it, I read an article about how wonderful it was:

How it spoke to the idea of living into true self.

It hailed the song, “Let It Go,” as an anthem of absolute freedom,

And it built a sense of excitement for the movie that, well,

Led to disappointment.

 

I got mad at the movie when I saw it.

“Let It Go” was a premature statement of freedom.

Elsa was not letting everything go.

She was just moving her isolation to a place where she no longer had to hide her magic from herself.

She had not accepted her true self.

She had simply run away from everyone and everything she might hurt.

 

(Yes, I have talked about this in therapy :-p).

 

I never forgave the movie,

So I was surprised by my decision to take myself and Amelia-The-Niece to see the musical.

I was also surprised by the musical itself.

It was wonderful.

And it didn’t make me mad.

It developed the characters of Elsa and Anna a lot more than the movie,

And it led me to feel sad for Elsa—

For the shame she carried for all those years,

Alone.

For the thoughts of the world being a better place without her,

For the inner battle to choose to live.

I could feel her pain—her struggle—her desire to live into her full self.

I felt sad for her unresolved childhood trauma.

And I felt sad for Anna, who clearly loved Elsa so much,

But just couldn’t break through to convince her of that love.

 

In the end, after they both make a lot of mistakes,

And Anna sacrifices herself for Elsa,

And they both finally understand true love,

They sing a spin on “Let It Go” that I think is beautiful:

 

“There’s so much I’ve longed to say

Then say it all beginning with today

It’s like a dream, I thought could never be

Elsa, you’re free!

 

Let it go, let it go

Show was what you can do

Let it go, let it go

The magic one is you

‘Cause here we stand

In the light of day

Let the sun shine on

 

I take this warmth within and send it up above

Goodbye to dark and fear

Let’s fill this world with light and love

 

I’m here surrounded by a family at last

We’re never going back

The past is in the past

Let it go, let it go

Then we’ll rise like the break of dawn

Let it go, let it go

The fear and cold are gone

Here we stand in the light of day

Let our true love go

Let it go”

 

Yes, friends:

Let it go.

Let the fear and cold come into the light of day.

You are loved.

Truly.

Unconditionally.

As your full self.

Let it go.

Let’s fill this world with love.

 

In Jesus’s name,

Amen.