The Butterfly Circus

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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.

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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!

Question: What did you take away from the movie?
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Category: Leadership
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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  • http://danlynchonline.com Dan

    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.
    My recent post Kids and Social Networking…. Good or Bad? Pt1

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/michaelhyatt Michael Hyatt

      Thanks for pointing that out. I didn't realize Melissa was in it.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/KNicholls KNicholls

    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.
    My recent post Tools of the Trade

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/michaelhyatt Michael Hyatt

      Isn't it amazing that a mere 20-minute video can have such a powerful impact. I really, really believe in this format.

  • http://wisewomenwrite.com Diane Owens

    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.
    My recent post My Biggest Fear

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/michaelhyatt Michael Hyatt

      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!

  • Carol york

    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.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/michaelhyatt Michael Hyatt

      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)

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Cindy_Graves Cindy_Graves

    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!
    My recent post The Sweet By and By, Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck

  • Angela M Bryant

    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.
    My recent post Five Frustrations Turning to Encouragement

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/michaelhyatt Michael Hyatt

      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!

  • http://www.midlandjack.blogspot.com Jack Hager

    Wow. Gee, I wonder if there might be spiritual applications? Take away…"the greater the struggle, the more glorious the triumph."
    My recent post It's All in the Emphasis

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/michaelhyatt Michael Hyatt

      That was my favorite quote from the film.

  • http://www.thanhdlu.com Thanh

    Inspiration!!
    My recent post That Dark Side of Personal Development

  • http://www.teawithtiffany.om Tiffany Stuart

    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.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/patriciazell patriciazell

    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.
    My recent post #27 BECOMING A SON OF GOD: INTRODUCTION

  • http://www.creationinspirations.com Cheryl Pickett

    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.

  • http://www.carasweightlossjournal.com Cara

    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.
    My recent post Weight loss newsletters…

  • bpierce

    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

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/michaelhyatt Michael Hyatt

      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!

  • http://deliverbliss.com Tim Sanchez

    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.

  • http://twitter.com/KarynBrownlee @KarynBrownlee

    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.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/success2you John Richardson

    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!
    My recent post The Elephant In The Room

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  • Juan

    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

  • http://ruach.wordpress.com David

    Thank you. Very moving and encouraging to "not lose heart" ala 2 Cor 4:16-18
    My recent post How to view failure as a Christian

  • http://ruach.wordpress.com david

    I didn't put my most recent post there–it just showed up!
    My recent post How to view failure as a Christian

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  • Pichisme

    Just in time for the holidays.. The Butterfly Circus DVD’s are now available!!! Visit our new website http://www.thebutterflycircus.com for exciting updates and to purchase other Butterfly Circus products.

  • Pichisme

    Hi,
    Just wanted to thank you for seeing The Butterfly Circus. We wanted to let you know, that the Butterfly Circus DVD’s are now available!!! Please visit our new website http://www.thebutterflycircus.com for exciting updates on the upcoming feature and to purchase other Butterfly Circus products.

    Thank you!
    Butterfly Circus Team

  • Rebekahmweigel

    Michael-

    We were honored to find this blog about our film! Thank you for the blog and tweeting about it as well! We just wanted to let everyone know the short film is now available for sale on our new website at http://www.thebutterflycircus.com. We are also working on the full length version of the film so keep an eye out on our website and Facebook page for updates! Thank you for your support!

    Rebekah Weigel
    Co-Writer/Producer of The Butterfly Circus

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  • http://twitter.com/barrykahan Barry Kahan

    All I can say is Wow.

  • Middletree

    Please don’t take this as a negative. The story itself is great, and I agree with all that has been said in comments so far. However, the man playing Mr Mendez (mustache guy) had an accent so thick that I had to stop and go back on several occasions to get what he was saying. This really hurt the momentum of the story for me.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks for sharing the link. I had the privilege to listen to Nick preach to over 8,000 people in Arequipa, Peru and almost 1,000 people receive the Lord on that night. His testimony is powerful!

  • LanaVaughan

    Another one you should check out is Validation.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao

  • http://twitter.com/barishgolland Barish Golland

    Excellent film, thanks so much for sharing it and reading the comments was helpful. Just FYI, the link you posted above doesn’t work and is showing a different site. All the best, 

    Barish