Dennis left the AARP magazine open on the kitchen table to page 16. There, staring at me this morning, was a sultry picture of Elizabeth Taylor in her younger years. In a bathing suit. One piece. But with a good bit of top exposure for 1959, methinks.
Underneath the photo was a little blurb referring to the book, How to Be a Movie Star: Elizabeth Taylor in Hollywood. (Check out those chapter headings.)
What also struck me was the statement that Julia Roberts was “pulling down $20 million per film” in 2006.
We pay our stars a lot.
We hold them up as idols and icons. Often overlook their unrepentant sins and lifestyles.
Humans. Like us.
Then I remembered something Mary DeMuth tweeted yesterday. “It could be just me, but it seems Christians are extremely starstruck by other famous Christians.”
It could be just me, but it seems we are often starstruck by someone or something other than the One who made the stars.
We so easily forget what the Great Celebrity has done.
Like the Israelites. Their famous one had disappeared up a mountain. They could not look past their earthly “star” to the One they had seen in the pillars of cloud and fire. So they coerced Aaron to build them a golden calf to idolize. Of course, that ended up being smashed to smithereens.
Do we need something tangible? Someone touchable to look up to?
How many of us rush to church with the same enthusiasm and excitement that we rush to see a concert?
How many of us have stayed home from church to cheer for our favorite football team or player?
How is it that we fall over each other to hear a famous speaker and miss the message of the man or woman next door?
When we expect others to be what only Jesus is, when we place them on pedestals, we set them up for failure and ourselves for disappointment.
We are probably not as likely to find Jesus on a stage or in a stadium or on the big screen. We will more likely find Him on His knees in the mud. Next to the homeless, the friendless, the helpless.
Sheila Walsh says in Let Go, “It’s hard to fall off a pedestal when you are washing someone’s feet.”
We need to look through those we are tempted to “worship,” and behold Jesus.
We need to look for those who are on their knees. Serving. Get down with them. Then look up. The only one left standing is Jesus.
The Famous One.
Who are you starstruck with today?
“Oh Lord, our Lord, our majestic is your name in all the earth!” ~Psalm 8:9 (NIV)
Copyright © 2009 by Sandra Heska King
Great post Sandra!
Oh Lord, our Lord how excellent is your name in all the Earth.
You are right and we all need to be reminded.
Thanks, Tamika. Beholding Him through all. 🙂
In Hollywood they say: "There's no business like show business." I say as believers in Christ we should should "Set the stage" & put God front & center in our lives. Funny, I never liked being in the spotlight. It blinds me…
Love it, Melinda!
Hey, Sandy! I agree with Melinda. Coming from a family background that, at one time, was in the spotlight, it is very uncomfortable for me. I'd rather be in the shadows with Sheila, washing feet! I loved your post! Excellent! Blessings to you!
Thanks, Lynn!
There are those who can wash more feet while on stage. It's a matter of where they divert the spotlight. And they would hate the pedestal!
a beautiful reminder. I saw a famous Christian a couple years ago and she did something that really struck me – as the crowd applauded her she lifted her hands in worship to God and then said our applause needs to go to Him not me.
Those in the spotlight need to be pointing others to Jesus – to worship Him alone and we as the "audience" need to remember their is only one Famous ONE!
Amen, Sharon!