As I create the Trailer for our next film Look to the Sky, I am reminded of some important truths.
#1 -- At first, a new idea looks unformed & pretty ugly. I had a vision, but I didn't know exactly how to get there.
For every problem I saw, I had to believe there would be a solution, even if I couldn't see it at the moment. To continue the adventure, FAITH is required. Faith knows that the completed journey will be beautiful, even when the present moment is challenging, lonely, or painful.
Your life may look rough at the moment, but don't lose your faith. Keep going. Something amazing is coming.
HOPE is everywhere
Meet my new friend Michael.
I'm in Texas today producing a film for the Dallas Leadership Foundation. One of their missions is helping inmates become leaders.
After years of drug use & multiple incarcerations, Michael decided to break the cycle. While in prison, he made a commitment to be different & looked for help to make it happen.
5 years later - with the help of some local heroes - he is doing work he loves & is happily married.
In his interview, he said: "Today, I woke up excited. Hope is everywhere."
Wherever you find yourself, whatever you are feeling, whatever you are facing... Don't lose heart!
Hope is everywhere.
Choose the Adventure
Judah and I had a great time at Disney World yesterday. But on the drive home, we got caught in a serious rain storm. Traffic on the interstate completely stopped. My GPS showed that the typical route would take an extra hour because of an accident. But there was an alternate way that was much quicker, if we exited the interstate immediately.
Leaving the mass of other drivers behind, Judah and I chose the path less traveled. Within a few minutes, we found ourselves on unfamiliar backwoods roads with no streetlights. I grew a little concerned when the GPS took us on a road with a large sign reading: “Private Road: Enter at your own Risk”. The darkness and unknown territory made Judah anxious. I asked him to list off all the Pokemon characters he knew, and that helped.
Then, on this mysterious road, we encountered another sign: “Pavement ends in 500 feet”. WHAT!!! In my small Hyundai sedan, alone in the midst of a rain storm, this was concerning. I guess I was stupid to leave the main road. Should I go back? Or should I listen to the voice of my mobile device offering me a better way? I chose to take the risk.
After several bumps, lots of water splashed on our windows, and a thorough education on Pokemon characters, we made it back to a main road. We safely joined the interstate past the accident and saved an hour of driving time.
Every day, each of us have the opportunity to stay with the crowd or leave the main road and go on an adventure toward something better. Most people would rather wait it out on the safe path because they know if they choose a new way there will certainly be dark roads that run out of pavement. And they are correct. If you venture into a new world in relationships, art, business, health, self-expression, or spiritual life, there will be anxious moments and scary signs.
As a person who has survived the unknown paths in life (and in rain storms), let me encourage you to CHOOSE THE ADVENTURE. There will be frightening moments. You will second-guess yourself. Sometimes you will decide to turn around because the risk is too great, and you will feel foolish for the time you wasted. But your life will always be fuller and richer because you made the choice to risk. You will grow from the experience. And sometimes you will find yourself on a beautiful journey that everyone stuck in traffic cannot imagine.
Some people will be critical or become anxious because of your choice. I recommend asking those people to list off all the Pokemon characters they know. It will be a great distraction or it will totally confuse them. Either way, PRESS ON!
My hand is getting tired...
Signing a bunch of Legends of the Knight DVDs for a speaking engagement today at a Leadership Retreat.
Every executive in the room gets a personally signed copy!
Speaking in Chillicothe, Ohio
I was honored to speak today at a church in Chillicothe, Ohio. After a week of travel filled with struggles and blessings, it was a joy to talk about our family’s spiritual journey with a group of smiling people!
This church group is an inspiration to me. Last Saturday, 50 people from the group organized a special ‘Mission Day’ in their community. Their goal was to show love.
They split up and gave flowers to residents at 5 different nursing homes, paid for people's laundry at five different laundromats, sang on a street corner, fed the hungry, prayed with random people, gave out free Bibles, paid for people's meals at restaurants and drive-thrus, delivered treats to nurses who serve others all day, and finished the day with a flash mob singing at Golden Corral and collected enough money to leave their waitress a $100 tip.
So happy I got to spend the morning with them! Happy Sunday to all!
Making in through a tough day
Yesterday was hard. But it was also beautiful. I filmed an inspirational story for our next superhero documentary in the Smokey Mountains, just outside of Knoxville, TN. A gorgeous setting with a heroic young man. But the location required a 4-mile hike, carrying my gear.
I had to climb on slick rocks & wade through icy, rushing streams with my camera, getting bruises all over. I fell down often on hard rocks & always felt off balance while filming. My phone got wet & went dead. And I wrestled a bear. (OK, that last one didn’t happen.) The footage is wonderful, but I felt like a boxer after 12 rounds.
When I opened my laptop hours later, I learned that my friend Lenny B. Robinson had tragically passed away. He was such an important part of our film Legends of the Knight. It was heartbreaking. And I had received hundreds & hundreds of messages about it. I’m not kidding… hundreds & hundreds. The outpouring of affection was lovely, but after a long day, I felt totally overwhelmed.
As always during my travels, strangers became new friends. The family I was filming with allowed me to set-up an office in their dining room & helped me sort out the problems of having no phone. (Without my GPS, I didn’t even know how to get back to my hotel.) We laughed about my bruises, put my phone in rice, ate potato soup, & planned for the next day of filming. Thank you Diane & Emery for being so kind during my tough day.
Life is continuing to teach me this: Darkness never wins, because even the smallest Light chases it away. This morning, the bruises still hurt. The ones in my body & in my heart. But Love always gives me Hope.
Whatever happens today, I believe there will be enough Compassion in the world to get me through it. I’m prepared for a heroic day. I hope you are too.
When you feel scared
On last night's flight, I sat across the aisle from a precious 3-year-old girl. It was her first plane ride.
She told me, "I heard that a plane crashed one time. That makes me a little scared."
I replied, "Yeah, things like that can happen. But that shouldn't stop us from visiting the places we dream of going & seeing the people we want to see. We can't be afraid to go on the journey."
She agreed. And we flew to Knoxville, TN together.
Together, all the way
Last night, I filmed an extraordinary 50th Anniversary celebration in NYC! The couple renewed their vows at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, & then hosted a reception at the top of Rockefeller Center. Julio Iglesias performed. The couple danced & sang along to many of his famous love songs.
Five decades ago, they were married in a small ceremony in a borrowed wedding gown & suit. The groom promised that he would give her a true wedding celebration one day. Last night, he delivered.
In his toast to his bride, he said: “Over 50 years, we’ve been upways, downways, & sideways. But we’ve been together ALL THE WAY.”
Thanks to David Tutera & his team for inviting me to capture this special evening. I was blessed by this couple’s story of love, commitment, & family.
Creating Safe Spaces
I’m in NYC on a filming trip. The rental car company gave me an EasyPass so I could move quickly through the tolls. At the 1st booth I encountered, I discovered mine did NOT work properly. The gate didn’t lift, & there was no way to pay manually. I couldn’t back up - there were already 8 cars behind me.
As I tried to figure out what to do, the honking began. Then unkind hand gestures. Then someone screaming out their window. I started to get anxious, & I had no way to solve the problem.
After a minute, a police officer came out from one of the booths. I braced myself emotionally to get yelled at. (I’m in NYC, right?) He walked up to my window & said, “Just a sec.” Then he moved down the line of cars, shouting to all the people behind me: “This guy’s doing the best he can! Stop honking your horns & shut up or I will give all of you tickets!” He came back to my window & calmly said, “Let’s fix this.” Within 30 seconds, the gate was lifted, & I was rolling again.
In that moment, he did more than solve my problem. He became my PROTECTOR. Beyond fixing the issue, he made me feel safe in a moment when I was powerless to take care of myself.
FEELING SAFE in vulnerable places is a gift. If you have the opportunity to give it, please do. And if you have protectors in your life, you are blessed… be grateful.
Next time I encounter someone in a vulnerable space, I want to do more than fix their problem. I want to use it as an opportunity to help them feel LOVED.
Celebrating a SuperDad
One year ago, I was stuck at the airport in Syracuse, NY.
I got the opportunity to help out a dad flying solo with a 2-year-old & a baby. After 3 hours of delays, he never seemed to lose his cool. I used a napkin to make him a SUPER DAD award.
I am learning that even in difficult circumstances, there is always a way to celebrate the GOOD!
Everyone needs a Superman
10 years ago, my Mom was in treatment for breast cancer. My Dad went with her to every appointment. She was never alone. He was always there. And he always wore his Superman shirt.
Although everyone calls her Jeanne, my Mom’s legal name is Lois. So, at Moffitt Cancer Center, my parents became famous as “Lois & Superman”. There was even an article about them in the hospital’s newsletter.
Everyone needs a Superman. Someone who helps, cares, & sometimes even saves the day. Someone who is ALWAYS there.
Our family certainly has one. My kids call him Grandpa. I call him Dad.
Today, our family is celebrating my Dad’s 65th birthday. Love you, Ed Culp. Happy Birthday!
Featured in Total Film
This is a moment where it feels surreal.
Our film was featured in Total Film magazine, in the SAME spread as an update on the new Batman v Superman film!
MY picture is on the same page as the stars of this film! WHAT!?!
But, in the big picture, the message below is the MOST important reason we made the movie. This was posted on the film's Facebook page. And it's the reason we are now working on another uplifting superhero film.
Thanks for all of your support on this heroic journey!
You are a Seed
You may feel small. You may feel alone. You may feel like you are in the dark. You may feel buried.
But, through faith, you can become something glorious. If you continue to live in love & hope, your life can grow into something spectacular. And the world will be blessed by your growth.
You are NOT dead & buried. You are a seed.
Filming in Ontario, Canada
A screenshot from yesterday's shoot for our next superhero documentary film.
An inspiring day in Ontario, Canada at a camp for kids with cancer & their families. So much love & inspiration shared by everyone!
It's been a tiring week, but my heart is full.
BTW - The little boy in this photo... his name happens to be Kye.
Happy Canada Day, & thanks to my friends at POP Kollaborative for sponsoring this trip.
GRACE fills the gaps
I am convinced that the adventure of my life is 10% me & 90% grace. This photo is a perfect explanation...
Today was brutal. To get the shots I needed for our next film, I spent 4 hours on this little boat in the middle of a storm. I was soaked, & the waves bounced us everywhere. I did my best to keep the camera steady, while my stomach did cartwheels. That was my personal experience. And that was my 10% contribution to the day.
But the day was a success because of the 90% that GRACE brought:
See that coat I’m wearing? A stranger saw I didn’t have a proper raincoat & let me borrow it for the day. I didn’t ask… she just offered it.
See that guy behind me? His name is Braden. He spent the day graciously driving the little boat & never complained once. In this photo, he’s pumping rain water out so we don’t sink.
See the boat? Someone provided it to me at no charge so we could get the shots we needed.
See my footage?... Nope, you will have to wait a while for that. But trust me, when it really mattered, the rain stopped, the waves quieted, & I got the footage I needed.
In the moment, the day felt like a disaster. But as I reflect, I see that GRACE filled in the gaps.
GRACE was enough today. I believe it will be enough tomorrow too. See you then.
Girl Motivation!
This is my friend Kaitlyn. I met her at the Los Angeles premiere of Legends of the Knight. She's on the right side of the photo.
Kaitlyn recently started a Facebook page called Girl Motivation. Her goal with the page is to inspire girls to live awesome lives.
She recently shared her project involving post-it notes. She wrote dozens of positive messages & then placed them inside the front covers of books at her local public library.
I love this clever & sweet idea to spread love & kindness to strangers. It could take months - or even years - to fully unfold.
Check out her page to follow her big-hearted adventures! Happy Summer break, Kaitlyn!
The most important applause
Right before the world premiere of Legends of the Knight, we had a special dinner party.
My Dad gave a speech. He said to me, "My son, I have watched you do many great things. But this is what you were born to do. You will help the world with this film. I am so proud of you."
This photo is of the standing ovation at the end of that premiere screening of the film. Looking back, the applause from the audience is NOT what has had the most lasting emotional impact. My Dad's private speech has resonated more deeply.
Fathers, your words matter. When the world's applause fades, your voice is still heard. And when the world is unkind, your faith is a light.
I've watched my Dad do many great things. But that night, affirming his son is what he was born to do.
Love you, Dad. Happy Father's Day.
Featured on Hulu!
The Impact of Kindness
In a few weeks, I will be filming in Ontario, Canada at a uplifting summer camp for kids with cancer & their families.
When I contacted the camp to ask permission to film there, the director said: “We know exactly who you are. During our training week with the counselors, we watched your film Legends of the Knight with everyone on our team. We felt it was the perfect way to kick-off our summer. We would be extremely honored to have you come film with us for your next movie.”
In the beginning, I tried to calculate & quantify the impact of this project. But I'm sure there are many more stories like this that I will never hear. I am continuing to learn that kindness has an impact that cannot truly be measured. And I don't need to personally be in control of it.
Please never get tired of doing good. Your love is spreading to places you will never see & cannot imagine.
Empathy is the path to kindness
In 1964, three voter registration volunteers were gunned down in Mississippi by members of the KKK for assisting black voters. In the moment before his death, Michael Schwerner, one of the volunteers, said to the guy who was about to shoot him, "Sir, I know just how you feel."
Two of the murderers later confessed and shared Schwerner’s moment of courage in the face of death with the FBI agents who took the confessions.
"Sir, I know just how you feel."
For me, this story brings the words of Jesus to "love your enemies" to another point of clarity. At the deepest level, it's about being able to reach out & cross over to someone else's heart, even when you cannot logically comprehend them.
I see a lot of anger & hatred on the internet. I'm sure you see it too. Some of the topics of this outrage are petty, some of them are important. We talk about being nicer to each other & spreading love instead of hate. This kind of empathy is the path to that kindness.
It's being able to look even the ugliest moment, word, or action in the face and say: "Sir, I know just how you feel."
It's the power to invite others into a space of compassion. And, perhaps, live there together.
(historical info via Taylor Branch)
