The Greatest Showman is a classic “rags to riches” story in which a poor boy named P.T Barnum falls in love with a rich girl. Her father does not approve of the relationship because he doesn’t believe P.T. will be able to give her the life she deserves.

Against her father’s wishes, they get married and have two daughters. Despite Barnum’s dreams for a better life, he and his family struggle financially.

After a lot of luck and a little fraud, Barnum was able to secure a loan from the bank to open the circus.

The circus became a massive success, enabling Barnum to afford the mansion of his dreams. Barnum was wealthy, but he wasn’t respected by high society. The circus was too low-brow and blue-collar for the “swells.”

As he chased the acceptance of the elite, he lost everything: his family when he was caught in a romantic scandal, his friends when he was ashamed to invite them to a party, and his business when rioters burned it down. Barnum hit rock bottom. He gained the whole world and lost his soul. Then he lost the world too.

We find P.T. where many who hit rock bottom find themselves: drinking in a bar alone. When his circus friends show up, he has an epiphany.

A Picture of Repentance

The following song is one of the best depictions of what the bible calls repentance:

“I saw the sun begin to dim
And felt that winter wind
Blow cold
A man learns who is there for him
When the glitter fades and the walls won’t hold
‘Cause from then, rubble
What remains
Can only be what’s true
If all was lost
Is more I gain
‘Cause it led me back
To you”

Barnum describes what it was like to lose everything. He went from a place that was warm and full of glitter and lights to a dim and cold place. He thought his dwelling was secure, but it became rubble.

By losing everything he realized that his family was more important than any fame or fortune he acquired.

“From now on
These eyes will not be blinded by the lights
From now on
What’s waited ’til tomorrow starts tonight, tonight
Let this promise in me start
Like an anthem in my heart
From now on
From now on”

“From now on” implies an immediate change. The things that once “blinded” him will do so no longer. He will no longer procrastinate the things he put off (like spending time with his kids). He resolved in his heart to change his priorities.

“I drank champagne with kings and queens
The politicians praised my name
But those were someone else’s dreams
The pitfalls of the man I became
For years and years, I chased their cheers
A crazy speed of always needin’ more
But when I stop and see you here
I remember who all this was for”

He spent so much time clamoring for the approval of the elite that he became addicted to their praise. He wore himself out chasing their cheers, never pausing to consider his ways. He sacrificed the greater (family) for the lesser (approval). When life circumstances forced him to slow down, he remembered that he started the circus to provide a good life for his family. He saw that the things he chased were not his true desires. It was like he was living someone else’s life and pursuing their dreams.

“And we will come back home
And we will come back home
Home again”

We were created for God. He is meant to be our home. But we all go astray and look to make our home in the world. To repent is to come back home again. It is like the Prodigal Son who rejected his father, ran away from home, and lost everything. When he was at his lowest, he realized it was better to be back with his father. And his father accepted him with open arms and a place of honor.

We sin by sacrificing the greater to the lesser. We choose created things instead of the Creator and prioritize things that are less important. My sin is on display when I scroll on my phone instead of paying attention to my son. Lying prioritizes convenience over the truth. Sloth prioritizes comfort over good deeds done in love. Those who are workaholics prioritize money and success over family, health, and worshiping God. Giving into fear prioritizes emotional and physical safety over courageous acts of love.

To repent is to see our sin, own it, ask for forgiveness, and return to God and his ways, trusting that Jesus’ death covers all of our sin. Repentance is to change your mind. P.T. Barnum thought that he would feel satisfied when people like his father-in-law accepted him. His repentance was realizing that the love of his wife and daughters was what he really wanted, and he didn’t need to earn that.

Martin Luther declared in his 95 Theses that Jesus wills for the entire life of believers is to be one of repentance. God desires for us to move from sin to freedom, not just with our actions, but also in our thoughts and hearts.

Where are you making your home apart from God? Where are you sacrificing the greater for the lesser? May God give us eyes to see where we go astray and courage to come back home again.