A Lesson From "Meet The Robinsons"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm5AEG47Vi4

Part of being an endangered specie means getting inspiration from things that most people do not watch. I think this is my personal justification for enjoying cartoons and animation :-) One of my favorite movies is Disney's "Meet the Robinsons." It is about an orphan boy who is trying to get adopted. He is a genius who invents things at a young age, and spends his young life trying to find his mother, who he desperately wants to know. Essentially, his son comes back in time to find him using a time machine that he invents in the future. This spirals into an adventure of interacting with his future family, and seeing all the revolutionary things he will invent in the future.

The boy's setback was that he continued to fail as a child. All his potential families did not want to adopt him due to his quirkiness and love for inventions. This prevents him from moving forward, because he is overwhelmed by the spirit of fear and failure - which leads us to the most amazing scene of the movie --

When he visits his family in the future, they ask him to fix an invention. When his attempt at fixing goes sour, the entire family applauds in one accord! They begin screaming in joy, "You failed!! How wonderful." The boy is so puzzled, while the family explains that failing is wonderful, because you get the opportunity to learn and get better. The boy is overwhelmed with emotion. Go watch this movie.

We begin to walk in our calling when we get used to failing. Failure is a pre-requisite to greatness. The more you fail, the more you get better. The most average people in the world never strike out - but they never hit home runs either. When you swing big, you miss big. But as soon as you connect with a big swing, the ball goes really far. This is what I call stadium status - even though Kanye coined the term. Stadium status is when you do not use statistics and odds as a method to your madness. Stadium status is being compelled by a much greater voice/spirit - something outside of yourself. The best songwriters are the worst songwriters. They can write a brilliant song, but there were 84 mediocre songs that came before it. When I first started writing music, I was potentially the worst musician on the face of the earth - some may argue that I still hold this title. I literally would write songs that sounded like they belonged on Sesame Street. Although I love sesame street, my vision was beyond PBS.

I have struck out in my life more than most people. I continue to make mistakes that shock myself. However, I believe in a God that uses our mistakes to reveal Himself. When I hit a home run, you will not be able to give me the credit even if you wanted to. In fact, you will look closer and realize an indwelling of something that is not limited by worldly talent or gifts. My biggest desire for all of you is to swing big and miss big. Please do not confuse "big" with success. Success and greatness are two different things - but this is for another post :-)

Peace and much love to you - John Baptist!

Comments

  1. g-vo, this post comes at perfect timing. It takes nothing less than a miracle to accept failure and glory simultaneously. I dont know what else to say except thanks for posting this and for "Why do we give up!"
    God bless!

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  2. g-vo, I love your "confession": "When I first started writing music, I was potentially the worst musician on the face of the earth - some may argue that I still hold this title. I literally would write songs that sounded like they belonged on Sesame Street. Although I love sesame street, my vision was beyond PBS."

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