I had the incredible privilge of seeing a Broadway classic last night at the Fulton Opera House - Fiddler on the Roof. If you don't know the story, it looks at the lives of a family set in Soviet Russia at the turn of the century when Jews had no real home. The main charater is Tevya - a poor -- ver poor dairyman and his family (five daughters in all). This musical/comical drama touches at the heart of so many life crises but most importantly how life as a Jew was changing. As i sat through this fantastic play, I thought of three spiritual lessons it teaches....
1) We need to have an on-going conversation with God. It is done in a hilarious way, but Tevya is always stating his case and predicaments to God. i mean he just starts talking to the sky and making known how he is not happy about what he is experiencing. Although his theology is way off on what God can do, will do and has done, in regards to man and his Will for us. Tevya is saying what is in the heart of all men facing situations that raise up a WHY GOD? moment!
2) People use the Bible to validate their Wishes. Tevya will preface all his major edicits as the head of his home with the phrase.... "As the Good Book says..." What is comical is that most of his quotes are not from the Bible. The fact is is "sounds spiritual" but they are not Biblical. But what is fascinating is that Tevya does what we all do -- use the Bible to validate or authenticate decisions or values or ideas that WE WANT. Here's how it works today... "God spoke to me...." As if God really spoke to them. The fact is if we would KNOW THE BIBLE we would know the mind of God!
3) Traditions are not meant forever. Tevya's greatest battle is the lost or changes of his well-established traditions. Like a father selecting the husband for his daughter. As much as I like that idea, it is very unpractical and as Tevya lived out, having your daughters find love in a relationship is not a bad idea! Tevya faces the struggles that all of us experience -- we try to control our world with traditions and forms. The most important thing that we need to focus on is fulfilling functions and living out principles.
If you have a chance go and see Fiddler....you will love it and you will be forced to consider the lessons taught throughout!