After reading that Karrilee had gone to the Greatest Showman twice already, I knew that I had to go check it out. So Sunday afternoon, after church, I found myself at the movie theater; totally outside my comfort zone. (I hate going to the movies alone!) But this was a movie that called me to break outside my comfort zone.
As I sat in that theater, the songs from the movie easily crept into my heart and head. But more than anything, the story line reminded me how we are all dreamers; dreamers in search of our own dreams. This story is a beautiful celebration of the diversity of humanity. (I wrote a blog post/movie review for my friend’s blog “Connect 2 Faith.” You can read that link here!)
All of the songs are playing in my heart and head, but the one that keeps replaying over and over is the song “This is me” especially the words to the chorus. The chorus includes these words, “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 to the beat I drum; I’m not scared to be seen; I make no apologies, this is me.” This anthem is an anthem that I think so many of us cry out each day.
Too often, we fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. We think we are not smart enough, not pretty enough, or not good enough. We simply think we are not enough! But the truth, my friends, is that we are all enough. God has “fearfully and wonderfully” made each and every one of us and gifted us with our own unique gifts and abilities.
The reality is that the story of PT Barnum that unfolds in this movie The Greatest Showman reminds each and every one of us that God is the ultimate showman. God is the one who calls and claims each and every one of us as God’s beloved children. I can’t help but be reminded of one of my favorite Christian artist’s Jason Gray’s song “Remind Me Who I Am.” Too often we forget who we are called to be. Yet the truth is that God made us own purpose and wants us to triumphantly declare in the words of the anthem “This is Me” from this movie.
So, my friends, if you want to celebrate all of humanity and its diversity, go see this movie. If you struggle with not being enough, go see this movie. If you are surrounded by others who think they too are the greatest showman and you feel more like Carlisle or Charity or the circus acts, go see this movie. Really just go see this movie and then share its message with the rest of the world.
For in this movie, I found myself again and again and believe you too will find yourself. It is a movie that is for all the dreamers. It is a movie that reminds us of the beauty of the world; that we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made.” It is a movie that declares over and over again that we are beloved children of God who God calls to triumphantly proclaim “This is me.”
I am linking up with these lovely ladies; Kelly and the Ra Ra linkup, Jennifer and Tell His Story, Holley and Coffee for your Heart, and Kristin and Porch Stories.
Great post, Tara! I really enjoyed The Greatest Showman too and I love the point you draw out. It is so easy to compare ourselves to others instead of remembering that God created us as unique individuals and that who we are is who he made us to be.
Thanks Lesley! It is so easy to fall into that comparison trap. We are indeed each “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Haven’t seen this movie but your post certainly makes me want to!
Thank You!
sounds like you really enjoyed this movie. We apparently will be waiting until it comes out on tv. 🙂 (my boys decided this)
I did! It will be so much better on the big screen…just sayin! 😛
I went to see this movie on Friday, and I would definitely go and see it again. It. Was. Fantastic. I love that song and I love thus pist too! Thank you for sharing.
Me too! I love this song too. You are welcome. Glad my words spoke to you! 🙂
I came over by way of Jennifer Dukes Lee, where YOU are the week’s featured writer! Yay Rah!
What?!?! I seriously had to go to her blog to check and make sure it was true! So cool! I am totally honored!
Thank youTara for sharing your heart. I needed those reminders.
You’re so welcome! I am so glad these reminders spoke to you.
This was definitely a powerful movie. I didn’t realize when I sat down to watch that it was going to be a musical. It hit so many emotions and made me think about how brave these people were. I’m not sure I would have the courage and faith to be so bold as to allow myself to be seen in such a magnificent way, as it turned out. They were rejected by family and God provided others to be their family and meet those needs to belong. I believe it’s a movie that needs to be seen again to truly get the impact the second of how it must have truly been for them to live in society with their obvious differences. It was well done and I highly recommend it. It had a good moral message as well. Thank you for sharing on this site your experience in seeing it, too.
I am glad you enjoyed me post. The movie really was surprising wasnt it?!