Unless you’ve been under a rock, you’ll have noticed the whole world and it’s obsession with Encanto; the story of a Colombian family with magical powers. There’s so many lovely things about this movie and it’s message that it’s hard not to fall in love with it. Added layers of musical talent, and moving lyrics, it takes it to a whole new level that inspires both adults and kids alike. While we don’t talk about Bruno, let’s take a minute to talk about some overarching messages in this story.
The Casita reminds me of the Internado and the time I spent in Bolivia, and has unearthed lots of feelings and emotions about that special summer. But more than that, this message of “gifts “and how our worth is perceived based upon what we bring to our family and or our community and the pressure we put ourselves under has really resonated.
As a woman, society especially in the media claims to us that we should be the most devoted spouse, ever yet never wavering on our devotion to self-care if but for appearances alone. We’re expected to work as though we don’t have children, and to mother as though we don’t have a job. The world of paradoxes about a mother is often dizzying. I have felt this pressure in so many ways over the past six years, and it has only expanded since becoming a business owner myself. While the existence of social media, especially platforms like Instagram, have exacerbated this pressure it undoubtedly stems from our harshest critics: ourselves.
I have to wonder what the effects of social media, movies, songs, and the like are going to have on my daughter, and can’t imagine the pressure that she will be under in her teenage years. And while the tides are certainly changing in several areas, the pressure we feel to perform and to live up to others’ expectations I fear will never dissipate. And while I am well aware that I will never be able to protect her from unwarranted societal pressures, I can show her what it looks like to be a strong woman that is intelligent, hard-working, devoted in relationships, and passionate in both motherhood and profession.
So often our Disney princesses are portrayed as women who necessitate saving, and even in most recent years flipping to the complete opposite end of the scale indicating a stance of total independence. Because of this, the story of the Madrigal family was rather refreshing. And when Luisa’s song came on, it was such a needed dialogue and a swarm of emotion that honestly I wasn’t quite aware that needed to be released.
Lin Manuel Miranda does such a beautiful job with these lyrics portraying the balance of the truths we tell the world and the truths we wrestle with deep within our souls. When Encanto‘s hero, Mirabel, notices that Luisa’s strength might be faltering, her question triggers a dynamic melody exposing the pressure and stress that lie beneath Luisa’s strong exterior. There are so many nuances to the lyrics that follow first showcase Luisa’s strength and then reveal her own self-doubt. I mean, who hasn’t been there, especially following the past two years navigating a pandemic on top of the demands already placed upon us from every direction?
I’m the strong one, I’m not nervous
I’m as tough as the crust of the earth is
I move mountains, I move churches
And I glow ’cause I know what my worth isI don’t ask how hard the work is
Got a rough indestructible surface
Diamonds and platinum, I find ’em, I flatten ’em I take what I’m handed, I break what’s demanding
But, Under the surface
I feel berserk as a tightrope walker in a three-ring circus
Under the surface
Was Hercules ever like “Yo, I don’t wanna fight Cerberus”?
Under the surface
I’m pretty sure I’m worthless if I can’t be of serviceA flaw or a crack
The straw in the stack
That breaks the camel’s back
What breaks the camel’s back it’sPressure like a drip, drip, drip that’ll never stop, whoa
Pressure that’ll tip, tip, tip ’till you just go pop, whoa
Give it to your sister, your sister’s older
Give her all the heavy things we can’t shoulder
Who am I if I can’t run with the ball?
If I fall toPressure like a grip, grip, grip and it won’t let go, whoa
Pressure like a tick, tick, tick ’til it’s ready to blow, whoa
Give it to your sister, your sister’s stronger
See if she can hang on a little longer
Who am I if I can’t carry it all?
If I falterUnder the surface
I hide my nerves, and it worsens, I worry something is gonna hurt us
Under the surface
The ship doesn’t swerve as it heard how big the iceberg is
Under the surface
I think about my purpose, can I somehow preserve this?Line up the dominoes
A light wind blows
You try to stop it tumbling
But on and on it goesBut wait
If I could shake the crushing weight of expectations
Would that free some room up for joy
Or relaxation, or simple pleasure?
Instead we measure this growing pressure
Keeps growing, keep going
‘Cause all we know isPressure like a drip, drip, drip that’ll never stop, whoa
Pressure that’ll tip, tip, tip ’til you just go pop, whoa-oh-oh
Give it to your sister, it doesn’t hurt
And see if she can handle every family burden
Watch as she buckles and bends but never breaks
No mistakes justPressure like a grip, grip, grip and it won’t let go, whoa
Encanto: “Surface Pressure” – Lin Manuel Miranda
Pressure like a tick, tick, tick ’til it’s ready to blow, whoa
Give it to your sister and never wonder
If the same pressure would’ve pulled you under
Who am I if I don’t have what it takes?
No cracks, no breaks
No mistakes, no pressure
The rhythm of the melody of “Surface Pressure” reflected the descriptions of stress and anxiety of so many people feel daily.
But what if we chose to remove some of that pressure from ourselves and the women who surround us? What if we decided to actually believe that our worthy does not come from what we can accomplish in this life? What if we decided to ask for help, to offer assistance, and to remove the unattainable expectations the world has set to measure success?
Maybe then, we could walk in joy as we fulfill our purpose- loving others as He loved us, breathing in the reality that our worth is found in Christ alone, and not achieved by our own actions.
