I’m a movie buff. Probably my favorite past time. One of the few places in the world that I can escape from all of life’s’ stresses. I go by myself…even back in college when it was uncool to do. I can put down a double feature any day. I’ve even seen a triple feature before. I love the smell of a movie theater. The taste of popcorn. I love how movies make me feel. And how they move my heart.
Yesterday, Jill and I took the kids to see a movie called, Wonder. Powerful story about a little boy named Auggie. He was born with a deformed face. Kids teased him at first. All he wanted in life was to fit in. On his first day of fifth grade his big sister whispered in Auggie’s ear, “Don’t try to fit in, when you were born to stand out.” Everyone in theater was crying. Especially me!
Great movies have lines that stay with us…forever…
“Nobody puts Baby in the corner.” (Dirty Dancing)
“Show me the MONEY!!!” (Jerry Maguire)
“You can’t handle the truth!” (A Few Good Men)
“Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” (Wizard of Oz)
“My mama always said, life was like a box of chocolates – You never know what you’re gonna get.” (Forest Gump)
“You’re going to need a bigger boat.” (Jaws)
“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” (Godfather)
“Go ahead, make my day.” (Sudden Impact)
“Here’s looking at you, kid.” (Casablanca)
“If you build it, he will come.” (Field of Dreams)
“Houston, we have a problem.” (Apollo 13)
“I feel the need…the need for speed!” (Top Gun)
“You had me at hello.” (Jerry Maguire)
And my very favorite…
“I’ll have what she’s having.” (When Harry Met Sally)
Lines of great movies stay in our hearts…forever. You could probably name fifty great movie lines that have stayed with you…forever. But great (and not so great) lines are not only in the movies. They are also in our own lives. Lines of critics stay in our hearts and minds…forever.
“You will never go to college.” (my high school typing teacher)
“College is not for you.” (my high school guidance counselor)
“When are you going to get a real job?” (my high school friend referring to when I was working for a non-profit after college)
“You are not smart” (my high school Italian teacher)
“You will never become an Eagle Scout.” (my Boy Scout troop leader)
“How can you write a book when you can barely even read a book?” (anonymous)
Negative words stay with us…forever. However, lines of encouragement also stay in our hearts and minds…forever.
“I believe in you.” (Bob Veltidi, my high school football coach)
“My honor.” (Jill’s response when I asked her to marry me)
“You ARE somebody!” (Mrs. Singer, my high school marketing teacher)
“You have a beautiful gift of communicating to others.” (Ken Blanchard, world renowned author and mentor)
“You are a born leader.” (Tom France, my high school RYLA camp director)
“All the people making A’s and B’s in class are going to be working for you one day”! (Tom Spaulding Sr., my father, referring to when I was getting D’s and F’s in high school)
What kind of lines are we speaking into others? Our employees. Our teammates. Our clients. Our friends. Our spouses. Our children.
Hollywood should not be the only ones making great lines. Heart-Led Leaders should also be in the great lines business. They can speak lines of positivity and belief into the people that choose to follow them. They can be champions and encouragers with their words. They can speak truth into the people they love and serve. And like movie lines, people will remember their words…forever!