My Raoul

"All I Ask of You" by Andrew Lloyd Webber

"No more talk of darkness,
Forget these wide eyed fears;
I'm here, nothing can harm you,
My words will warm and calm you.
Let me be your freedom,
Let daylight dry your tears;
I'm here, with you, beside you,
To guard you and to guide you."

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These lyrics represent my Raoul, those who enable me to face my phantoms and fears, and to cast them away in the comfort of their embrace. My Raoul is plural. This is because I find my comfort in God and in my husband Phil, and in my husband Phil through the tenderness of God's grace.

I attended the live theatrical performance of Phantom of the Opera for the very first time just over a week ago, and this song pulled me into its melody, as the lyrics spoke of things I understand too well. Like the heroine, Christine, I have my own phantoms that lurk in dark corners in my mind, and I could hear God's comfort in the words of Raoul, "Let me be your shelter / Let me be your light. / You're safe, no one will find you, / Your fears are far behind you." I, too, often feel vulnerable and in need of a shelter, and my husband offers all that Raoul proclaims and more. This is a stability, a comfort bestowed on me by my husband, through God, and for this I am thankful and at peace knowing that he'll "lead me from my solitude."