Over the weekend I saw "El Cantanta" the movie about the life of Hector Lavoe. The above video is the song "El Cantante."
Lavoe's life was so painful and tragic. His mom died when he was five, his brother died a few years later, he left Puerto Rico against his father's wishes and it estranged them, he started using drugs to medicate his pain (weed, coke, heroine, etc.) and had a permanent addiction, got AIDS from shootin' up, his ONLY son died in a shooting accident, he had a nervous breakdown, he jumped off of balcony in a suicide attempt, and died alone.
Why is that the people who live through the most pain are the ones who make some of the greatest contributions? Some of the best preachers I know have deep, deep personal wounds.
When men don't have a venue to process and heal their pain it leads to self-destruction.
There was a comment made in the movie that his voice and singing was driven by his pain which explains it's intensity and connection to the souls of many latinos. Maybe it's why I connect with Lavoe so well.
Maybe this explains why I don't get along well with people that had life pretty easy. Sometimes I can't stomach being around them. So, many of the people I hang out with have very, very deep lacerations and are in the process of healing (many aren't though). I worry about many of them because they are not Christians and they're using drugs, sex, the club scene, etc. to medicate pain. If they don't invite God into their lives to heal their wounds it's going to destroy them and other people in the process as they leave a trail of pain. Unhealed pain begets more pain.
Lavoe's life was a tragic look into the story of what happens when you have pain and no Jesus (and no friends to point you to Christ). Lavoe's contribution to salsa is unprecedented. I wish that Christians had been a part of his life. Maybe he'd still be here. He died at 46 years-old.
Since 61% of churches in America are made of women, and concerned mostly about meeting the needs of women, my guess is that stories like Lavoe's will continue even within the church. It's one of the reasons why so many fathers I know are leaving their families: they never got their pain dealt with.
Posted by anthony at August 13, 2007 08:31 AM | TrackBack"Why is that the people who live through the most pain are the ones who make some of the greatest contributions?"
I think I can answer this, it is because they have each faced pain so hurtful so destructive that the pain of success is easy in comparison.
Do you know why most people do not start their own companies, become executives, run their family to the Glory of God? It is work, hard work and it will bring great pain and in the end great joy. But too many of us really do not want this type of everlasting joy we want the joy of eating a pizza and drinking too many beers, we want the joy of sex but not in the marriage bed that is too painful, the joy and comfort of a job that pays well but does not ask much, the joy of a home we can barely afford, of knowing if we screw up at work our boss will take the heat not us.
My question is how do we as Christians address our pain and use it to grow in Christ? To be honest I have learned more about pain from Scott Peck, the Dalai Lama and Paul then I have in the church. So what am I going to do? I am going to live a life of growth, facing the pain. Lord willing through my actions and words help the church as well.
Posted by: Brian at August 13, 2007 11:26 AMWell it's like Luther said; You can't be a good theologian without knowing and experiencing pain and the low valleys.
The doctrine of common grace teaches that even those outside the Church have some insight into truth that God has revealed in the world and His creation. Sometimes the most truthful and raw analysis of reality comes from those living IN the world and IN sin, that Christians and everyone else can't help but stand in astonishment at the profound statements on reality these artists make.
Posted by: Tyler at August 13, 2007 12:01 PMBrian said, "My question is how do we as Christians address our pain and use it to grow in Christ? To be honest I have learned more about pain from Scott Peck, the Dalai Lama and Paul then I have in the church. So what am I going to do? I am going to live a life of growth, facing the pain. Lord willing through my actions and words help the church as well."
Yeah, bro all this needs to be addressed for sure!!
Posted by: Anthony at August 13, 2007 01:50 PMTyler said, "Sometimes the most truthful and raw analysis of reality comes from those living IN the world and IN sin, that Christians and everyone else can't help but stand in astonishment at the profound statements on reality these artists make."
Yeah, bro, that's VERY true.
Posted by: Anthony at August 13, 2007 01:51 PMI have come to believe that experiencing pain is the best opportunity we have to die a little to ourselves, therefore knowing and tasting God a little more. I think this can also be experienced in the beautiful things of life, the things that bring joy. But it's almost as though pain is a prerequisite to experience God through beauty, because without it, we spend the joy of that on ourselves instead of bowing before God in worship.
Posted by: t.smith at August 13, 2007 03:28 PMPerhaps it is that pain forces artists and preachers to seek an outlet. Perhaps also it is through pain that we realize the depth and breadth of life, and that realize spurs us to communicate it how we must. Because, of course, we only know that we feel pain in the contrast to moments of joy--and those who suffer the most are those who feel both joy and pain the deepest. Perhaps they are the only ones who are able to show us through art, through ministry what life is truly about. I don't know if any of that makes sense.
Posted by: dramaturge at August 13, 2007 10:21 PMreading your blog, which I know is addressed to men, makes it seem like only men experience pain, rejection and suffering.
Posted by: omo at August 14, 2007 02:55 PMomo, really, how? Why does it seem that way? If a blog that is primarily "addressed to men" discusses men's issues related to men's pain, how does that seem like only men experience pain? If a blog is directed at women primarily and discusses the kinds of pain that women encounter would you object that they only seem to communicate that only women experience pain? If the women's magazine "Cosmopolitan" only does feature stories on women's issues would you consider them neglecting the same issues for men? Why can't men have their own forum without women saying, "hey, what about us?"
Posted by: Anthony at August 14, 2007 03:50 PMCosmo neglects everyone regardless of the fact that it's geared to women....
Anyway.
I TOTALLY AGREE I JUST HOPE THAT GOD IN HIS INFINATE MERCY KNOWS THE PAIN THAT LAVOE HAD AND MAY HE HAVE MERCY ON HIS SOUL I AM A CATHOLIC SO THOSE WHO ARE PLEASE PRAY FO HIS SOUL AMEN