a thousand reasons

The words to that song, "To Life" (in Fiddler On The Roof) are so mind-blowingly good.

"God would like us to be joyful
Even when our hearts lie panting on the floor"
...who comes up with a lyric like that?

Well -- the guy who wrote the song, right.

"our hearts lie panting on the floor"

Now, that --
that would be a situation.

And the idea that God "would like us to be joyful" even if things are bad
(I mean if y'heart is lying panting on the floor, that ain't good, right?)...  the very substantive idea that it is our "job" in life to be "joyful" -- along with the responsibility to lead a good life, in the best way we can, is firmly embedded in the lyric and makes a huge impact on the audience, even as they feel like they are just floating & bobbing along with the breathtaking, fun, and funny dance in the scene.

Art has this power in our lives.
And in the world.

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It takes a wedding to make us say
Let's live another day...

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May all your futures be pleasant ones,
not like our present ones... (!)

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We know that when good fortune
favors two such men
it stands to reason we deserve it too...  : )

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...And the Russians in the bar sing to the Jewish guys, real strong & fast, like a machine gun or a jackhammer:
"MAY YOU BOTH BE FAVORED WITH THE FUTURE OF YOUR CHOICE!

MAY YOU LIVE TO SEE A THOUSAND REASONS TO REJOICE!"

((Okay!))

-30-