“Man, Jamilyn really has an obsession with The Greatest Showman.”
You’re absolutely right. You really are. And here’s why:
Not only does that movie meet my wildest expectations through dance, choreography, directing, music, heart, and passion, but someone must have entered into my mind and picked 3 of my favorite actors listed in there to star in this amazing musical (I’m convinced). I saw it 5 times in the theaters before I left on the World Race, I’ve saved an iTunes gift card for when it comes out and I can buy and download and watch it whenever I want, and I listen to the soundtrack more than I would like to admit. I LOVE it.
I love the actors, I love the musicians, I love the director, I love that it was a passion project for so many people working on that set, I love watching the behind the scenes and watching it all come together, I love how it brought people joy and laughter and inspiration.
I also love how God can use a secular movie made by Hollywood to love and speak to His daughter (I wrote a whole blog on that here: ). It’s a wonderful musical and if by the time you have finished reading this blog and watching this video you are not also convinced, I don’t know what else I can do!
I’ve had this soundtrack bouncing through my head the entire time I have been on the World Race. It’s lyrics have helped me through insecurity, prayer, pride, and more that God is currently still working on with me. I have found that God is everywhere using everything to build His kingdom; even a Hollywood musical.
Since I have been on the race, I have really taken intentional time in developing and pursuing a deeper prayer life. One of the ways God helped me do that is through the book The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. One of the ways Mark challenges you in this book is to dream BIG with God. The task is to take away anything and everything that would hinder your dreams- if time, money, age, kids, spouse, whatever it is, wasn’t a factor, what are your dreams? And then write them down! Be bold! Think big! Think so big to the point where if it were to happen, we could not give credit to ourselves but only glory to God! Think of things that are not humanly possible by your own efforts, but only God could make happen.
So I did it.
I wrote out all my dreams! There are dreams about future jobs, future in missions, future travels, future kids, future friends coming to Christ, future spouse, future books I want to write, or places I want to teach or speak at. Then all of a sudden I realized that the dreams starting becoming more and more creative. Dancing, singing, choreographing, acting, directing, video making, writing- these were all things that started making the list. “Where did these come from? I thought I left dancing and acting behind and missions was my future.” I mean I know I love dancing! I took years of classes and I’m the first to hit the dance floor at a wedding and the first to bust a move when a good song comes on the radio, but I did not expect these to be things that I could pursue as dreams!
Huh. Interesting, God. Is this something you really want me to pursue? And then like a lightbulb moment or a wrecking ball, this dream of this video you are about to watch came up and I knew this was the Lord’s answer.
Dream Big with Me He says.
So this is OUR dream: to take a song from the soundtrack of the Greatest Showman, and my passions and love for dance, directing, and choreography and smoosh it together to tell the story of a World Racer. In this song, Hugh Jackman’s character, P.T. Barnum, is starting the circus and he is trying to convince Zac Efron’s character, Philip Carlyle, to join him. Philip lives this high end, fancy, comfortable and rich lifestyle and P.T. Barnum challenges him to step outside the box he is in, live a little, go crazy, and experience life in a new and adventurous way! I resonate with this story! Before I was a World Racer, I lived a comfortable lifestyle and put my faith and my God in a box. The World Race was God’s call to me to step out of my comfort zone and live a little crazy… for Him!
The dream was to choreograph, direct, and execute this fun music number with a twist, video tape it and post it on the internet, and let God to the rest. Dreaming big? For this video to go viral, for it to bring joy to dozens, hundreds, even thousands! People love The Greatest Showman, they love musicals and dance numbers, I know there is a number of people who love watching World Racers on the field as well. This has both!
Hey God, WHAT IF this video goes viral and people are drawn to my blog, my channel, my squad and what we are doing and through seeing THIS video, they come to know Jesus? WHAT IF they end up seeing all the other videos about Jesus, the gospel, and what You are doing around the world that they get more of Your hope, joy, love, and peace?!
WHAT IF WHAT IF WHAT IF?? DREAM BIG DREAM BIG DREAM BIG!!
So this is me and God dreaming together; this is the result. I had SO much fun with it. I came alive trying to make this happen (no pun intended)! I’m on the edge of my seat writing this right now (well, actually the airport floor in Jamaica) because God is inspiring me, teaching me, and calling me to use what I have to build His kingdom. And honestly, this video getting a lot of views would be sweet, it really would be, but all I want is to bring joy to this world… and if it brings YOU joy, than MAN… that’s all I wanted. Praise the Lord. I want to be about bringing joy into this world and right now this is how the Lord wants me to bring it- just to you right now.
As far as future dreams and plans, I’m going to continue to dream big and do it with open hands. One view and one smile? Awesome. Thousands of views and thousands of smiles? Amazing! As long as His joy is shown. He gets all the glory. He could lead me to teach dance, to choreograph, to direct movies, or go to film school, to plan flash mobs or act or sing or dance for His glory. Who knows!
I really do love The Greatest Showman. I do. But watching God work in me and build up a passion for performance like this to bring joy to the world, now that’s truly the Greatest Show.
Joy to YOU my friends…
Jamilyn Joy
From my partner in crime and co-star Tee Jackson:
“Tee!!” JJ exclaimed as she beamed with enthusiasm. I could see a giant grin forming on her face and I knew her wheels were turning. “I have this amazing idea!” she yelled, and I already knew I would be on board.
To be a part of a vision that was put together so quickly was SO MUCH FUN! It took some bloopers and multiple efforts to complete, but I am so thrilled to see our music video come to fruition. We had so much fun filming it, and I am so thankful for squad mates who were so willing to help us. I hope our message is conveyed in the way that God intended and JJ envisioned it! It is always the greatest show when it is glorifying to God.
