How you see yourself is important. How you see others is equally important. We often underestimate how much our perceptions shape both realities.
Recently, someone on Twitter posted a link to a short video, The Butterfly Circus. It won First Place in the “2009 Door Post Film Festival.” It’s only 20 minutes, but it packs a powerful punch.
Rather than ruin the story for you—and the impact—I encourage you to find a time to watch this film. It would great to watch it with your family or your team at work. I recommend that you click on this link and watch it full screen. Enjoy!
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Mike…this is an amazing short with a great message. Saw this as part of the judging in the festival and it also has one of "our" Hermie voice talents featured in a supporting role, Melissa Disney. It's an incredible reminder of how we view people on the exterior and make snap judgements.
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Thanks for pointing that out. I didn't realize Melissa was in it.
Wow I have to say I'm just about speechless after watching this. What an amazing lesson in perceptions and how they impact us. It is a reminder, for me, that we not only need to believe in ourselves, but also in others. Thank you for sharing this, it was a wonderful way to start my day.
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Isn't it amazing that a mere 20-minute video can have such a powerful impact. I really, really believe in this format.
I debated about taking 20 minutes to watch this now, and I'm so glad I did because later I probably would have forgotten. So powerful–thank you so much for sharing, Michael! The line that struck me the most: "The greater the struggle, the more glorious the triumph." A good thing to keep in mind when God asks us to do the seemingly impossible.
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I can totally relate. I literally had it queued up for a week before I finally got around to watching it. I only wish that I had watched it earlier!
What I took away: We tend to see people as a sum or their past, and not a possibility of their future. That is terrible, and does not reflect Christ's love for the least of these…I am challenged to take a fresh look at the people that I see as only a sum of their past or my history with them.
Absolutely. It reminded me of 1 Samuel 16:7: “For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (NKJV)
My take-away(s)…
Limitations are sometimes blessings. You don't waste time weeding out your "options" – you just do what you were created to do.
What we believe about ourselves is not the truest thing about us. What God says about us is the only thing that matters.
Powerful flim. I can't wait to share it!
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This movie mines the deep longings in all of us; the courage to step out of the hole of the past, to jump into what God has put in front of us and to freely live the life He has planned. It brought back forgotten emotions from childhood when my father brought me to a "freak show" at the circus. I remember being disturbed and longing for a better life for them. Thank you for posting it. I feel I have been set free as well.
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It was also a big reminder to me of how much power each of us have in what we believe about other people and the potential we see in them. Our belief can make a huge difference!
Wow. Gee, I wonder if there might be spiritual applications? Take away…"the greater the struggle, the more glorious the triumph."
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That was my favorite quote from the film.
Inspiration!!
My recent post That Dark Side of Personal Development
Thank you for sharing this film. It touched the deepest places of my heart. I'm sharing it on my blog, Facebook and Twitter now.
Michael, thanks for posting this. I am going to show it to my students tomorrow (and hope I can keep from tearing up). So many of my kids come from troubled homes and live in a world full of alcohol, drugs, and sex–they have no real concept of being successful. I try to give them as many opportunities to shine as possible. I believe this movie will speak to them, and I covet your prayers for them.
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Just wanted to say that after a relatively lousy day at work this was such a refreshing breath. From the acting to the filming to of course, the story line, it's one of the best things I've seen in quite a while. Thank you for sharing it. We need more stuff like this.
I've found myself in William's "shoes" out on that hill of rocks many times in my life. I get so comfortable within my own limitations that I somehow feel everyone else should meet me right there at the front of my limitations. And when they won't meet me there, I throw my hands up at them and say 'what is your problem?'. Pushing my limitations onto them. Until someone, like the circus master, comes along and lets me meet my limitation face-to-face and let me fall right no my face. I flail in panic and anger and 'how could they'. Then I realize it wasn't their fault at all. My limitations were all within my own mind and self. What a powerful movie. I rarely get 20 minutes to myself, I'm glad I spent it here. Thanks.
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What a wonderful video. The actor without limbs by the way is an amazing Christian. Check out this brief video in which he gives his testimony.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DxlJWJ_WfA
I watched all of Nick's online videos about a year ago. They blew me away. He is one amazing guy. He kind of takes all of our excuses away!
Thank you for sharing. Fantastic to see a courageous man like Nick Vujicic getting more exposure.
——
Our hearts shape our attitudes. Our attitudes shape our actions. Our actions shape our lives. Our lives shape our children.
Start with your heart. Start your day with God.
I'm rarely short on words, but tonight I am. This film put an exclamation point on God's words to me today, from morning til midnight. "The greater the struggle, the more glorious the triumph." Thanks, Mike.
What a powerful message. It just shows the God given gifts many of us take for granted. I have hands… I can write. I have arms… I can reach out. I have legs… I can take a message to the world. Here was a man who had none of those and yet communicated so much. Thank you for sharing!
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Mike –
Thanks for your post- certainly a great movie – The greatest the challenges the better the opportunity to make GREAT things in life.
Everyone of us has something great within ourselves we just need to believe it.
Thanks
Thank you. Very moving and encouraging to "not lose heart" ala 2 Cor 4:16-18
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I didn't put my most recent post there–it just showed up!
My recent post How to view failure as a Christian