Greatest Show on Earth
Lou Ann and I went to see the movie “The Greatest Showman today. It is a blockbuster musical that may have the same kind of success that La La Land had last year. It thrills me, that Hollywood has decided to bring back musicals. Some of my happiest memories are the musicals that I was blessed to perform in, here in Sedona. Do not avoid this movie because musicals are not your forte’. There is drama and wonderful performances that are thrilling.
However, for Lou Ann and I, the message of the movie was what gave us goosebumps as well. P. T. Barnum gathered together a bunch of folks that the world and their families had given up on. Not for what they may have done. Simply, because of how they looked. There is the bearded lady, the giant, conjoined twins, dog boy (covered with hair), 750 pound man and others whose only sin was their color. Here are the lyrics to one of the thrilling songs about this amazing collection of people:
I’m not a stranger to the dark
Hide away, they say
‘Cause we don’t want your broken parts
I’ve learned to be ashamed of all my scars
Run away, they say
No one will love you as you are
But I won’t let them break me down to dust
I know that there’s a place for us
For we are glorious
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I’m gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I’m meant to be, this is me
Look out ’cause here I come
And I’m marching on to the beat I drum
I’m not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
Another round of bullets hits my skin
Well, fire away ’cause today, I won’t let the shame sink in
We are bursting through the barricades
And reach above the sun (we are warriors)
Yeah, that’s what we’ll become
Won’t let them break me down to dust
I know that there’s a place for us
For we are glorious
I make no apologies….this is me!
In the beginning Barnum (played magnificently by Hugh Jackman) was just in it for the money. He grew up in poverty and was beaten and discouraged. He found a way to shine! His rag-tag crew came together and thrilled audiences. Barnum, like many of us was using his life force to fill up the huge hole in his heart, and he did it spectacularly. Many of us have had less than perfect childhood environments. Often, we are driven by the lack and shame we experienced. If we were poor, we seek riches. If we were beaten, we seek to beat up others. If we were ignored, we seek the limelight. There is nothing wrong with any of these ways of living. The challenge sometimes comes because we fail to recognize that all we wanted was to be loved. And it is when we find a way to love ourselves regardless of what we own, or where we live or who we hang out with, that we achieve what we always desired.
This is the message I want to leave with you today. Love yourself no matter what. Don’t hide your greatness, you are all talented amazing people who have a lot to give to our world. Your passion for what you love can change the world in a heartbeat. Make no apologies for anything about you. Our planet needs you now. This is you! You are the Greatest Show on Earth!! From my non-apologetic heart to yours, Thomas