Into the Fire

I’m a football fan, I love good film/drama, and writing is what I do in this phase of my life—in fact, it’s a compulsion, a passion, sometimes an obsession.

Recently, a professional football player on “my” team had a run-in with the police in another city after leaving a bar. It wasn’t the first time he’d been in trouble, but I think it was the first time in this particular city. The young man is 27 years old, very talented, but in all the years with this team, he’s only shown flashes of his “brilliance” as a player. He’s not what you’d call a solid player, just one with seemingly never ending potential which is slowly slipping away from being realized. He won’t be back on my team. He’s an unrestricted free agent, and he hasn’t visited too many other camps. NFL history suggests he will end up with one of two or three teams who seem to select and cater to misfits, and if the kid has any “pride”, he will seek to remedy all the claims against him and finally perform up to his capabilities.

Let’s see . . . we could name a quick 50 celebrities that come to mind—alright, maybe 5 who are barely (in more ways than one) 21 years old and frequenting the nightspots, getting in trouble either legally or professionally, and always publicly. Actors have a history of appearing in legal or social situations which don’t contribute to their character value. Granted, some are exploited because of their celebrity, wealth, or notoriety, and much of that is unfair, though it unfortunately comes with the territory.

So, what about authors? Seemingly an inoffensive lot, wouldn’t you say? Well . . . some of them have committed suicide, drank themselves to death, were or became recluses, and are or became just plain weird both in belief systems and/or conduct. No one would know these things about them if they weren’t celebrated writers, however. Obviously there was some talent involved, some fame, if you will, to have their personal lives exposed to such scrutiny.

So what is it about “celebrity” that makes life in the fast lane so potent, so demanding, so trouble-prone? Nothing, really. You see a celebrity faces the same pitfalls of sin all the rest of us face, only it’s in an exaggerated state under the microscope of “fame” and “fortune”. Most of us admire someone who is a celebrity—either for their talent, their opinions, their conduct under the glare of such an intense focus on their lives. Others of us seem to hold celebrities in disdain, appreciating nothing about their innate gifts and coveting their riches or status.

A person must decide how to live his life. People come from all kinds of backgrounds. Some grow up with no solid foundations of faith, respect, love, or lawful conduct. Life is ugly for the most part for them. Others grow up in privileged situations, either character-wise or materially. The fact remains: a person must decide how to live his life. In this era of information access in our country, even the least of those in poverty-ridden communities knows what’s on the outside of those communities. They might not know a way out of that place, but they can see what’s out there. That “view” will either provide an impetus to get out and better their surroundings, or it will drive them to bitterness and resentment and the resulting choices of those emotional attitudes.

The foundation supernaturally placed in a heart to seek after a solution to the natural occurrences of sinful ugliness in this world, privileged or sorely lacking it, will point an individual to his Creator. Although many scoff at God’s attention to their lowly needs, they can earnestly cry out to Him at any time, and He promises to reveal Himself to anyone who asks from his heart—in other words, anyone who means to get serious about contacting God.

It never fails to amaze me how militant some people are about denying God and the salvation available in Jesus Christ. I understand skepticism. I realize it’s difficult to place faith in anything and anyone, especially the unseen. But it’s a necessary piece of human engineering. The immense faith it takes to believe in the theory of evolution is evidence of that. Others place their faith in aliens, crystals, the mapping and reading of stars, and nothing—having the faith to believe this is it, folks: all there is.

We all fail to the do the right thing sometimes, a lot of times. Some people fail more than others. And some people, due to celebrity, have to face up publicly to their errors, mistakes, and/or repeated abuses to themselves or others. Even so, all of our conduct is public to God. He sees it all from the inside out. No hiding from Him. No getting away with it this time. All of it is viewed. And regardless of the prestige of an attorney who is skilled and crafty enough to get a celebrity “off” from an obvious or trumped up charge, God knows whether or not a “crime” was committed. And without His forgiveness, there will be no getting “off”.

If your writing is going to make you a “celebrity”, slightly known or well known, keep in mind, sin is always there waiting to overtake you. Your behavior will be evident to more people, but it has always been evident to God. You must decide how you’re going to live your life. Is Jesus still number one? Will you live for Him even under the glare of potential exposure to fame’s illumination? Will your valuable values remain the same? Will your writing and your conduct speak of who He is in your life?

Jesus was a huge celebrity. And with that, some adored Him and others hated Him. He never wavered, never changed his message, and, yes, he was perfect as we certainly are not. But as His followers, we are called to represent Him, to be His ambassadors, to speak His truth in love, and to be holy. Tall order. That’s why the Holy Spirit resides in us to help us be the ones He called us to be. Even when “celebrity” calls . . .

Father, let us follow you and you alone. Help us to be diligent and obedient wherever you call us to go, whatever you call us to do, and however you ordain our steps. Let us never diminish what you did for us, Jesus, by our talk, by our actions, by even our thoughts. Holy Spirit, lead us in the ways everlasting. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.