I’ve written about this song before, but the finale of Les Miserables is worth another look. The turmoil through which the characters live rides the full gamut of human experience – triumph, failure, anger, love, fear, and desire – and it ends with a glimpse of the very notion which drives me.
They will live again in freedom
In the garden of the Lord
We will walk behind the plough-share
We will put away the sword
The chain will be broken
And all men will have their reward
We all see things in this world which we feel aren’t right and try to change them. Sometimes we succeed, many times we fail 1, but to live well means we live looking forward to the hope for which we long. And when we love, as this excellent musical reminds us, we catch a glimpse of the face of God who fulfills hope.
This is a song I can’t listen to without coming to tears.
- And sometimes we might even be right. ↩
Painfully Hopeful 
I’ve seen Les Mis on stage at least 10 times. I too can’t hold back tears, even though I’m ready for what is coming. To much painfully hopeful truth in it, truths that are universal, eternal and always connect with the core of how I’m created.
The finale of Les Mis makes me leave the show feeling with hope instead of heartbreak. It is one of the most perfect musical theatre finales ever.
Agreed.
I am obsessed with Les Mis. Back in high school, I told myself I will never love a tragedy. Then I saw the movie musical: the 1st time was Dec. 2012, but I was confused and shocked that I didn’t know what to think of the musical. Than I had to see it a 2nd time: that is when I started to realize there is so much more to Les Mis: that was in 2013.
By summer 2013, I became obsessed with Les Mis. It is heartbreaking and tragic, but at the same time filled with hope, love, sacrifice, forgiveness, compassion, humanity, and redemption. I am emotionally connected to so many characters. Now I have seen that movie who knows many times and have seen the stage show five times, listened to the songs over 800 times. I still am strongly emotionally connected: I am reduced to tears each and every times.