April 10th has some random holidays, y’all. Check it:
- Be Kind to Lawyers Day
- Farm Animals Day
- Library Day
- Sibling Day
- Safety Pin Day
But for me, all of those holidays pale in comparison to what I’m celebrating today:
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN CAME OUT ON DVD
If you haven’t seen this flick yet, I’ll try not to judge your life choices. But let me bring you up to speed: The Greatest Showman is a rose-colored, historically-inaccurate retelling of P.T. Barnum and his circus. The musical has more cheese than France and is more predictable than a rooster doing the cockadoodledoo that he do. And yet…
I couldn’t possibly love this movie any more than I already do.
25 years ago, Walt Disney’s Sister Act 1 & 2 hung its habit on the idea that secular (non-religious) songs could successfully be performed as worship songs. And if Arthur Holmes is right and “all truth is God’s truth” then I’m here to testify that The Greatest Showman is my favorite faith flick of all time.
TIMES SPIRITUALITY IS MENTIONED IN 105-MINUTES: 0
MINUTES I FELT SPIRITUALLY CONNECTED: 105
Christianity may be the framework for my spirituality, but love, truth, grace and redemption are consistently the core of many world religions.
As part of my self-appointed role as a Greatest-ShowFan, I actually went to Barnes and Noble the next day (the kind with real bricks and doors and everything!) and bought the soundtrack. Below are a few of the songs that resonate with my faith.
NEVER ENOUGH
I’m very open about my past struggles with depression. For me personally, counseling and prescribed medication were not enough. Last year, on a day when I was particularly struggling with suicidal ideation, I opened up my Bible to do some prayer time and “randomly” opened it to Colossians 1:16; it basically says I don’t live for me, I live for God.
Subtle, God. Real subtle.
It is my faith above all else that keeps me anchored to this world. So when I listen to this song, it ain’t about some mush-gush between two people. For me, this song serves as a reminder that no matter how much “stuff” I add to my life, I will never feel whole without God.
FROM NOW ON
Consistency is hard. And not just for flossing and exercise. Who needs to pray EVERY day? It won’t hurt to sleep in ONE Sunday. It’s easy to get distracted by life. Full disclosure: part of the reason that Christianity works for me is that nifty thing called grace. Ever noticed that God *only* uses imperfect people? And thanks to Jesus, grace isn’t merit-based. Even if we never scratch it, we’re all walking around with a winning lottery ticket in our back pocket. Ready for your spiritual do-over? Go for it.
THIS IS ME
Do compliments make you uncomfortable like they do me? How would that change if we re-framed our thinking, gave thanks for the perfection of our imperfections, and simple accepted any accolades as praise to our gifts from God? Cuz then deflecting compliments is like showing up in God’s kitchen and telling Him you don’t like the soup. You’re His recipe. So be a badass and serve that dish with love and light to the world.
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.” (Psalm 34-4-5)
Is there a secular song that makes you feel spiritually centered or ferociously happy? Do me a favor and leave me a comment telling me what it is. I’d love to know!
Love this and love you!
Thank you for being my partner in this life. I absolutely love being yours.
I preordered this through Amazon and they ship it early so that it arrives on release day! I’ve never pre-ordered anything, but that was too good to pass up. I wasn’t going to watch it last night, but ended up watching the sing-along version. Duh. I was so happy all the way through. “And we will come back home. And we will come back home, home again.” (As I write those words in the midst of a struggle with the humanity of church, I see that while I may still be figuring out the path, the destination is in place.) But could that song get any better? Yes, it could because the dancing in that scene is !!!!!!!!
Honestly, most showtunes make me feel connected to the divine. How is it that harmonies work and sound so beautiful to my ears? How do people have the pipes to sing so damn well? Right now, I’m marveling at the genius of Hamilton (still), but also seeing the comfort of Jesus in the lyrics, “Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47E2tfK5QAg) and “I know that the night must end and that the sun will rise. I know that the clouds must clear and that the sun will shine” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7AeTFYsBgc).
That may have been entirely too long a response. :-/ Can you tell I get SUPER jazzed about musicals?
First: Oh yeah, you know that Amazon pre-order was non-negotiable.
Second: Girl, we need to talk about the emotional journey you just took my chunky rump on. I have seen Les Mis on stage and on screen multiple times, but I have never seen the Lion King. The song was beautiful, but the voice? Touched by the hand of God.So I Google myself some Jason Raize to see he took his own life in 2004? Damn. Rest in Power, beautiful son.
Love you