Michael Gracey directed
the movie/musical, “The Greatest Showman.”
In preparation for the movie, it took 8 months to schedule a date when
the Fox executives, producers, actors and singers could all be present for a
read through and singing of the songs.
One of the main actors, Hugh Jackman, called Gracey the night before the
scheduled meeting to let him know that a skin cancer had been removed from his
nose, he had 80 stitches, and the doctor had instructed him not to sing. Gracey told Jackman not to tell anyone the
news before he came, since he knew people would not be overly excited about
flying to New York City to practice a musical and then not be hearing him
sing. The next day, as everyone
gathered, Hugh Jackman explained the situation about his surgery and the
doctor’s orders. He told the cast and
producers that he would stand, act, read his lines, and mouth the words as a
fill-in sang for him. That worked fine
until the final musical number “From Now On.”
Hugh started out mouthing the words.
Then he spoke aloud a few more lines.
Soon Jackman was softly singing several more lines. No longer able to hold it in, Jackman sang
the rest of the song with energy and zest from his heart. The room became electrifying as the other
singers realized what was happening and enthusiastically joined in. There was a price to pay for his exuberance
as Jackman had to have some of the stitches repaired or replaced. When interviewed about the movie, Hugh
Jackman said that with all the dark in our world that this is his Christmas
present of light. The movie stresses the
importance of inclusion and tolerance and according to Hugh, “What makes you
different makes you special.”
The Alabama Crimson Tide
played the Georgia Bulldogs for the National College Football Championship. Alabama was behind 13 – 0 at halftime, thus
Coach Nick Saban’s decision to change quarterbacks. During the second half, freshman Tua
Tagovailoa, from Hawaii, guided the Crimson Tide to tie up the game and force
the game into overtime. On the next to
last play, in overtime, Tagovailoa was sacked for a loss of several yards. But on the next and final play of the game,
the quarterback threw a long pass which was caught and run in for a touchdown. That play secured another National College
Football Championship for Alabama.
During one of the after game interviews, Tua Tagovailoa paused and said,
“I just want to stop and thank my parents; and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
He got me here.” Tagovailoa couldn’t keep his gratitude inside
any longer.
Hugh Jackman’s
experience with the final song and Tua Tagovailoa’s after game interveiw remind
me somewhat of Paul’s experiences in the New Testament. Paul would not stop voicing and sharing the
good news about Jesus. Even when ordered
to stop preaching and teaching about Jesus, or face prison and beatings, Paul refused
to keep the message of faith, hope, love, joy, and salvation within. Likewise, no matter the consequences, Peter
and John also refused to stop speaking about what they had heard and seen.
We tend to overflow with
that which we are filled. During this New
Year may others readily see and witness the Jesus spilling out in us through
our words, actions, reactions, and the ways we love, respect, treat, and
encourage them.
No
one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under the bed.
No, you set it up on a lamp stand so those who enter the room can see their
way. We’re not keeping secrets; we’re telling them. We’re not hiding things;
we’re bringing everything out into the open.
Luke 8:16-17 (The Message)
Then
they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in
the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes:
to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help
speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Acts 4:18-20
May
the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that
you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:3
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