SMILING FROM EAR TO EAR

Just got through watching the movie, "hairspray".  I have to admit I do like musicals.  I guess i like them cause i'm a horrible dancer and cannot sing a lick to save my life.  I marvel in the things i'm not good at.  (that's probably why i laugh so much at Tommy.  I marvel at his quick wit and instant words and ad-libs that come out of his mouth.)

I like the musicals that are real upbeat with big dance numbers.  The more somber, droll musicals- not so much.  The last number of the movie/musical, "You Can't Stop The Beat" just made me smile.  The music was great, the dancing was phenomonal and i found myself grinning and really enjoying it.

I do that with many things- I even tear up when i see someone doing their very best.  I think when i see a scene that is really great- i'll smile and tear up.  It's never, "wow, that was great acting" but the unique sensation that the actor is doing their very best.  Same with the musical number- that group was at their best.  It was like watching "joy".

I can watch "The Biggest Loser" and tear up and smile too.  Watching these people who are so overweight overcome something that has been holding them down for so long makes me smile.  I smile without realizing it.  I'm happy for them, excited for them...they are at their very best trying to overcome something so daunting and personal in their lives.

Tom and I just completed our first volume called YOU TEACH.  I watch the preview of You Teach and I smile.  We are at our best.  We think of a dream and go after it.  That's Joy.

Tom and I did a gig in Llano, Texas.  Small little town outside Austin. I thought maybe 300 people would show up.  Buses were pulling in...students, adults, kids and grandparents were all in this high school auditorium.  It was packed...over 1100 people watching us.  It hit me so odd. "don't they know Crowder or Tomlin isn't coming?".  It's just us.  It was overwhelming.  I started tearing up backstage....Tommy gave me that same look as Tom Hanks did in that baseball movie as he said, "Crying! Crying?  There's no crying in Skit Guys!"

My kids make me smile....We had a gentleman come fix my cracked window on my car.  His name was Mike.  He apologized for being late and he said he was at this one house all day.  I offered him lunch and he accepted. I went inside and told my daughter, Ainsley that we needed to make this gentleman some lunch.  She helped me make the sandwich, got the chips together and some cookies.  She carried the paper plate out and said, "Hello Gentle-man...My name is Ainsley.  Here is your lunch."  and then Mike taking the plate - kind of astonished- said "thanks".  She turned to walk back into the house and stopped and turned around and slightly bowed and said, "enjoy".  

Holy cow!  She turned, bowed and said- "enjoy"....where does she learn that?  it was so beautiful.  I smiled- ear to ear.  Teared up a little.  What joy on Gods' amazing playground.

When is the last time you smiled at greatness?  

When is the last time you really, really enjoyed and reveled in somebody or something?

Well...that's too long.

Times' a'wastin'- life is happening.