Before seeing the updated musical film version of this show, I knew very little about it, just snippets of news, commentary, and general pop culture references. From how people referred to it, I could tell it was something special and unique, but would have no idea why until I actually saw it.

So now having seen what all the fuss is about on Hairspray, I'm impressed! It also helps that I automatically have a fondness for almost any song, movie, or story told between the years 1955 and 1963. Alongside the music, choreography, and overall fun of this film, what stuck out for me especially was how the character of Tracy Turnblad was represented in the story, and Nikki Blonsky's great breakthrough performance certainly helped!

Tracy is, in a word, absolutely fearless... whether it's openly dancing with the black students, publicly announcing her passion for Negro Day on live TV, or inspiring her reclusive mother to break out of her shell. When she arrives to join the protest march with her black friends, Motormouth Maybelle (played exquisitely by Queen Latifah) reminds her there will be a cost. She gives the same warning to inter-racial lovebirds Penny (Amanda Bynes) and Seaweed (Elijah Kelley), that if they go public with this, to basically expect trouble, prejudice and criticism. By sticking to what they believe and going against the status quo of the backdrop of the '60s civil rights movement, our heroes face many dangers but emerge victorious in making integration mainstream. A fitting uplifting end for a feel-good Broadway musical gone Hollywood, although as we know, in reality things got darker after '62.

Maybelle's warning to the characters of Hairspray draws a close parallel to what Jesus reminded his disciples, that there was a cost to following him:

In 1 John 3:13, under the context of "Love One Another" John reminds us "Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you."

In Luke 14:25-27, "Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 'If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.'"

Jesus is not saying here that we should literally hate our family... what is he saying is that if you choose to admit you believe in him and want to live for him, to expect ridicule, hate, and even possibly the disapproval of your family, if they are not believers. In some cultures, particularly the Muslim world, those who choose to follow Christ must leave their families behind to the point where they will be killed if they do not retreat undercover.

No matter what you believe in, if you know it's right and you're willing to fight for it, perhaps you can find some inspiration amidst the beat of Hairspray.

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7)