How The Greatest Showman Taught me To Love What I Do

*cue dramatic foot-stomping*

Don't judge me--but I only recently saw The Greatest Showman. I don't usually like musicals (I SAID don't judge me), but I really enjoyed the plot, characters, and yes, the music to this one.

A secret I'm pretty sure you didn't know about me--I love to analyze books and movies. (Shocking, isn't it? I never would have guessed . . .)

And as I thought through The Greatest Showman, I realized the whole movie is about joy. Chasing happiness. Making others happy. Finding happiness yourself.

If you've chosen to be a writer (or any host of other careers), chances are you've chosen it because you love it. Because you can't not do it. Because it stirs something in you that no other career does. Because it's your passion.

But there come days when we don't love writing. Where scenes are messy and drafts are rough (even rougher than usual). Where editing has us pulling out our hair. And let's not even talk about marketing!

Sometimes writing just isn't the greatest show.

The Greatest Showman offered a lot of answers to the question, "How do you find true joy?" Barnum thought when he made it all and proved himself to society and his family, he would have joy. (Spoiler alert: it didn't.) Charity (and Jenny, technically) thought who they loved would fulfill them and make them happy. (Spoiler alert: it didn't.) Philip and Anne thought the safe and familiar and comfortable would keep them happy. (Guess what? It didn't.)

It was Philip who got it first, I think. He saw those circus performers who refused to let anyone else define them. They chose to be themselves--and give others a smile while they were at it.

And when Philip took risks, and opened up, and threw all of himself into the show and loving Anne, no matter what anyone thought, he was truly happy. No matter what happened.

Writing isn't about making it. It's not about proving ourselves to whoever. It's not about earning approval and a good deal of money on the side. It's not safe and comfy and familiar.

We're here to serve others. Maybe to take a few risks. To push a few boundaries of what's considered comfy. To put on the greatest show for more than a few hours. To put a million dreams into words that will last forever. To bring the world a lasting smile.

Because we know what The Greatest Showman didn't. That true joy comes from the One Who writes our story. The Author we get to introduce the world to through our stories, however that may look. That's what keeps us writing. That's what makes us love what we do. That's what makes the show go on.

And that truly is the noblest art.

*Have you seen The Greatest Showman? What did you think of it? Did it teach you anything? Share your adventures in the comments below!