“Slaves had options: escape, rebel, die.
Cowards only have consequences.”
Franklin, from the Broadway musical, “Passing Strange.”
July 1st found us sitting in a theater in New York City, celebrating our first wedding anniversary by going to see a Broadway musical. Now expect some great entertainment in the city that never sleeps, and we’ve got it! What she didn’t expect, however, was to walk out of the theater jaws dropping from some of the most insightful statements she’d ever heard.
The quote mentioned above? Only Dylan and Springsteen have ever written lyrics that strike a chord so deep within me.
Quick recap: Stew is an aspiring teenage rock star who grew up in South Central Los Angeles in the ’70s. During a marijuana-induced conversation with his youth minister, Franklin, Stew reveals his dream of moving to Europe and become a rock star. Franklin has followed in his father’s ministerial footsteps and, until his rap session in the front seat of a VW Beetle, he has never confessed how much he regrets not being true to his own dreams.
Franklin encourages Stew to follow his heart. Later, he painfully admits that he is trapped in a life designed by his father. It’s worse than slavery, he insists, because his entire existence is the fruit of fear. “Slaves have choices: escape, rebel, die. But cowards, cowards only have consequences.”
Man, powerful stuff.
Is there anything worse than slavery? A quick answer is “of course not!” But think a step further and you might find a different answer. Fear.
Being enslaved by your own choices, or rather by your inability to make a decision… that’s called cowardice. And as Franklin so profoundly pointed out: cowards only have consequences.
We all have options. Even choosing not to choose is a choice. And we know that all choices have consequences. But when we allow fear to make our decisions, it is the same as saying: “I will take the scraps that life gives me.” Sorry, that’s not good enough for me.
Making big decisions is scary, there’s no doubt about it. Anyone who has faced a life-changing decision knows that it can seem easier to just walk away. But not making a choice because of what you believe, because of what your heart tells you, well, that means fear makes the choice for you. And then what is left? Due.
Sounds like you’re promoting the control craze? Maybe I am! Because, well, I AM a control freak when it comes to my life. Good. I admitted it. I don’t want to give up input and influence over the only life I have. You? Would anyone?
If we avoid things that are intimidating, we are allowing fear to choose, and that means we get the consequences of fear. Neither empowerment, nor opportunity, nor adventure, nor possibility… only consequences.
Thank you Franklin, for an important reminder of one of the things that makes life a gift. Enjoy yours.