Read: Ephesians 4:31-32
P.T. Barnum was a man who grew up dirt poor. He may not have had financial security, but he did have something that made him different from everyone else in his shoes. He had an imagination. He dreamed big dreams. He worked hard and eventually married the girl of his dreams. He created P.T. Barnum’s Circus, a place where you went to see exotic performers and acrobatic feats - basically it was a “freak” show. The circus appealed to regular crowds, but not to those who were from the upper class.
In the movie “The Greatest Showman,” P.T. is obsessed with being accepted by the social elite. So he hosts a concert in New York for a talented opera singer and his group of circus entertainers to attend. But they are refused admission to the reception following the performance. It might not look good for those “people with oddities” to mingle with the people from high society. The performers were hurt, angry, and worse - rejected. P.T. goes on to invest his entire fortune in a cross country tour for the singer, leaving his wife and children behind. The tour ends early and leaves him in financial ruin. He loses everything! P.T. is broke and alone.
P.T.’s performers find him at the local bar drowning his sorrows. And despite how they were treated by P.T., they implore him not to give up on the circus. When everyone else hid them away, P.T. Barnum brought them together, which gave them a purpose and a family. They don’t want P.T. to give up on them and they don’t want to give up on him. They could very easily have told P.T., “You hurt us, so we’re gonna hurt you. You’re getting exactly what you deserve.” But they don’t. In fact, they don’t put any conditions on P.T. They just want to be a family again.
In our world today, we seem to easily gravitate toward the path that says people should get what they deserve. However, as people who follow Jesus, this is the road we are not supposed to travel. Instead, Jesus asks us to, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32
When we hold onto feelings of anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness, it hinders our ability to love others. Imagine if the circus performers had followed the path of bitterness, unforgiveness, or even revenge. How would it have changed their path? Would they have had to return to their families where they were hidden away from the world because of how they looked? Would it have given P.T. a chance to make things right?
Although P.T. got a little lost along the way, the performers chose compassion. Through their actions, they had a chance to be a family again. Love, mercy, and ultimately forgiveness triumph in this story and it can triumph in yours, too.
Is there a story of anger, bitterness, or unforgiveness in your life right now? Are you constantly hoping that someone gets what they deserve? How might your life be different if you were to follow the advice given by Jesus in Ephesians 4:31-32?