A DAY AT THE MOVIES!

Sammy Davis Jr., a physically handicapped, racial and religious minority, and a basically unattractive (relatively), little guy, was a multi talented movie star. I, on the other hand, a healthy, attractive (relatively), racial and religious majority-- am not. I'm sure there is a lesson here, but that has nothing to do with the point of this story.

In 1989 Sammy played the role of a dying tap dancer in the film, Tap. Sammy's movie daughter was, admonishing him for continuing, in a weaken condition, to sneak out with his old cronies and dance. Sammy told her, "If I stop dancing I'll still be dying, I'll just be bored doing it." Then he said the most powerful line in the movie, "I am a tap dancer". As simple as that line was it set the priorities for the life of Sammy's character. A dancer was who he was. It was his priority. It defined him. His life's purpose was to serve the dance.

While Mr. Davis Jr.'s character was fictitious, there is also the true story of Karl Wallenda. Karl founded the high wire act, The Flying Wallendas. Ten years prior to Karl's "work related" death he was asked about his feeling for the tightrope. He said, "Being on the wire is living, everything else is waiting." A wire walker was who Karl Wallenda was. It defined him. It was his priority. His life's purpose was to serve wire walking.

Two characters in one of Warren Beatty's earlier movies Shampoo were discussing Beatty's character, and one said something like, "He's a hairdresser, right?" The other character said, "He's not a hairdresser, it's just what he does." Doesn't sound like WBs purpose was to serve hair.

When the lid of the old pine box closes, and they fiddle you on home, wouldn't it be nice to know that you spent your alive time serving that which to you is you?

Lesson: Some do what they do, others do what they are.