Beauty and the Beast.

We had the privelage to see see Beauty and the Beast twice this past week.  Once by Trilogy and then by Act One.  Both were done well and we were amazed and proud of the youth who performed it.

Watching it will always remind me of watching it with my daughter Joyanna when she was little but Belle's love for books is more like Dana.  Anyway, viewing this will always have some sentimental value to me.

There is something else that has always intrigued me about this story.  I was hooked from the first song where Belle sings, "There must be more than this provincial life."  The key to this shown all through the story and is not the fairy tale ending that one would suppose.
Maurice sets off to make a better life for him and his daughter.  Belle gives up her freedom for her father.  Lumiere, Mrs. Potts and all serve Belle despite there adversity.  The Beast releases Belle in an act of love.  Belle returns to love a beast.

Living a life that is lived for others is the key.  When we live in such a way that others benefit and see love in us and through us, we live the life we were designed to live - a life than is anything but "provincial."