Making it better

Of all the traditional music this time of year Handel's "Messiah" is the my favorite.
More than the beauty of the music, I love the story connected to it.

Handel debuted it to a PACKED house and it was an instant hit. After one show he was followed by a crowd congratulating him on creating something so entertaining. He turned to the crowd, and said:

"I did not make it to entertain you, I made it to make us better"

Now the implications in that statement are pretty heavy, but this statement got me thinking.

Think about what we watch on TV, what passes for literature, what the themes and dialogue are in the movies we watch, what the substance of popular music is. When was the last time an artist (writer, producer etc.) Dedicated their art, their work to the general purpose of being uplifting.

I'm not talking about peddling an particular moral agenda. I mean, what if their sole purpose was to create joy? Thinking about it, don't you long for something more than entertainment?

I hope you find it.