Its Not About Me (Thank God!): Reflections on Music, Sports and Other Types of Fame.

We’ve been living in an age when famous people often thank God as they receive an award or some such thing and then continue to go off on a narcissistic rant or lead a train wreck lifestyle. They may say the Name of Jesus Christ but all too often live completely indifferent to His teachings and commands. To be fair, lots of not famous people do this too.

To purposely misquote Kanye West, the real question should be, “Do I walk with Jesus?”

So in an age like this its refreshing to hear Grammy award winner, Mandisa, explain why she didn’t attend the Grammys.  

“I can’t tell you how little I enjoy people scrutinizing what I am wearing and how I look. I’ve been on the receiving end of such mean comments coming from the other side of the anonymity the world-wide web provides. I can usually handle it, but recent events have left me feeling insecure about such things these days … I wish I could tell you it doesn’t hurt my feelings. Honestly, it does. I’m still learning to believe the truth about me….

(Also) …both times I have gone to the Grammys I have witnessed performances I wish I could erase from my memory, and yes, I fast forwarded through several performances this year; but my reason is not because of them, it’s because of me.  I have been struggling with being in the world, not of it lately. I have fallen prey to the alluring pull of flesh, pride, and selfish desires quite a bit recently.

“Don’t fall in love with this corrupt world or worship the things it can offer. Those who love its corrupt ways don’t have the Father’s love living within them. All the things the world can offer to you—the allure of pleasure, the passion to have things, and the pompous sense of superiority—do not come from the Father…” 1 John 2:15-16a (The Voice)

I knew that submerging myself into an environment that celebrates those things was risky for me at this time. I am taking steps to renew my mind to become the Heavenly Father-centered, completely satisfied with Jesus, and Holy Spirit-led woman I felt I was a few months ago, but I’m feeling a bit like an infant learning to walk again on shaky legs. Perhaps being alone with Him as my name was announced was protecting myself from where my flesh would have tried to drag me had I been up on that stage.”

I think I would like to attain to her example. I think I need to.

In an age like this I was skeptical when a pastor from Seattle all of a sudden became a mentor to Justin Bieber. Was he just trying to sneak into the limelight?  Then I found out the real story. Justin’s mother, Pattie Mallette ( a committed Christian) made a personal phone call to Pastor Judah Smith 3 years ago. In this article from the Christian Post, Smith explains:

"His mom called me....and he was having a concert in Everett (Washington)," Smith shared on Fox and Friends in February of this year. "Lo and behold he had heard me preach when he was younger in Toronto. I guess I used to put him to sleep. His mom said she'd play my tapes and he'd fall asleep."

You may still scoff and ask why Bieber is still living such a disastrous lifestyle. As a former youth pastor (well, youth leader anyways), I can tell you we often, agonizingly, watch while the young people in our charge make bad decision after bad decision.

But God is a God of patience and grace and unconditional love and I imagine that Pastor Judah is seeking to emulate those characteristics with Justin.

In an age like this its refreshing to hear athletes like recently crowned Super Bowl champions Russell Wilson and Kam Chancellor genuinely give the glory to God. Not just lip service but hands-and-feet service. They walk the walk even when the spotlight is off them. Although far from perfect , they are authentic and sincere – they are real.  Dr. Karl Payne, chaplain to the Seattle Seahawks for 20 years sums it up nicely:

“They understand the eternal perspective has to trump things of time. Three-point-four is an average NFL career.  The walk with Christ is going to last a lot longer than the other. When the tinsel and confetti are done its just me and Jesus. The price of your soul was the death of the Lord Jesus. if the price is the same then the value is the same. They’re locked on that. They understand that in the context of winning and losing. I am valuable because I belong to Christ. End of story.”

So what is really refreshing in an age like this – and in any age of history – is to see folks ( me and you included) realize that its quite simply not about music or sports or fame or power or money. We realize, in fact, that it is not about “me” at all. It is so joyously liberating to realize that, contrary to all that the world heaves on us spiritually, mentally and emotionally, our salvation  and our value and worth do not come from within but from above.

But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whomfn the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

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The Invisible Resistance Theory: An Illustration Exploring Unseen Health Issues

I’ve often tried to explain to a friend, family member or co-worker why I can’t do all the things I used to do – all the things that most normal healthy people can do.  I probably try too hard to explain that actually, most of them are a pretty understanding bunch. 

I, like many others, have what I call an “Invisible Disease” which in turn causes all kinds of “invisible resistance” that healthy people normally do not experience. 

For me this invisible illness takes the form of depression and severe OCD. For others it could be any number of things – from the mental ( as I have mentioned) to the physical ( Multiple Sclerosis, Lyme Disease etc..) to the emotional ( i.e. having experienced severe abuse) and even to the spiritual ( As a Christian I believe in such a thing as spiritual warfare – good vs evil, a real and powerful spiritual enemy of humanity…). For people suffering with these things, it is not time that they do not have enough of ,  it is energy -  Physical, psychological or otherwise.

As I said at the outset of the blog, I’ve often tried to explain the invisible, not always with success. Not long ago I came across a brilliant illustration by Christine Miserandino on her blog “butyoudontlooksick.com” . She refers to this illustration as  “The Spoon Theory”. She writes

" As I went to take some of my medicine with a snack as I usually did, she (her roommate)  watched me with an awkward kind of stare, instead of continuing the conversation. She then asked me out of the blue what it felt like to have Lupus and be sick…. I started to ramble on about pills, and aches and pains, but she kept pursuing, and didn’t seem satisfied with my answers. I was a little surprised as being my roommate in college and friend for years; I thought she already knew the medical definition of Lupus. Then she looked at me with a face every sick person knows well, the face of pure curiosity about something no one healthy can truly understand. She asked what it felt like, not physically, but what it felt like to be me, to be sick.”

You can read more of the illustration she ended up giving here: The Spoon Theory

While I found the Spoon Theory to be excellent I’ve wondered about other illustrations – especially ones that may be more directed to men.  I have one here that I would like to share with you – it centres on the world of sports and athletics and  I think I will call it ‘The Invisible Resistance Theory” … or something like that.

In athletic training there is a growing use of ”resistance”  tools that provide additional resistance to or force against  the athlete in training. Some of these tools include speed parachutes (which you’ve probably seen on Nike and Reebok commercials)  and weighted clothing  from vests and backpacks to ankle and wrist weights.

In regards to “speed” or “running”  chutes , The Runner’s Guide describes them as such: 

“The excess fabric billowing behind the runner creates drag which makes the runner have to work harder to overcome this drag. This helps the runner to improve both his speed and his strength because the muscles are working hard to negate the resistance associated with the use of the running parachute.”

And howstuffworks.com adds:

“Speed chutes also afford runners a psychological edge. It's this extra mental resilience that shows when other runners tire out. When the winds gust against you while attacking the last big hill of the race, it's wind-resistance training like this that provides an extra edge.”

Wikipedia reports this about weighted clothing:

“Research demonstrates that using an overload during sprinting or speed drills requires lower-body muscles to generate more force against the ground which could lead to gains in strength and power and ultimately faster acceleration during running.

…..A standard form of military and fire fighter training is not only be able to carry a backpack, but to march and run with one loaded down with a concrete "marble". Part of SWAT training is to be able to do pull-ups wearing a heavy pack.”

So we can fairly easily grasp this concept of training and why it would prove beneficial in the official “race” or “game” when we are not held back by the extra resistance. That training now enables the athlete to  become faster, stronger,  more explosive and even more mentally strong.

But imagine this. It is the official sporting event but one of the athletes is forced to wear all of his resistance training tools.  He has a speed chute doing its best to create drag and his weighted clothing enhancing the power of gravity on his body.  If this athlete equalled the performance of his peer who had no resistance tools than we would say – “Amazing, that guy has overcome so many disadvantages and still performs so well”.  Even if the first athlete did not perform well we would all readily understand why and come to his defence as well as patting him on the back for the valiant effort.

But in order for this illustration to really work we must imagine one more thing – all of the resistance tools attached to this athlete are, in fact, invisible. They cannot, or will not, be seen by the crowd or his fellow athletes or even the officials of the competition.  He is not recognized for the extra effort he had to put in due to the disadvantages of the resistance tools and he receives no compassionate pat on the back. It is instead assumed that he is weak, lazy or maybe just a coward.

As the philosopher Albert Camus once wrote , “ Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal.”

For someone who is relatively healthy and has never had a significant experience with this metaphorical  type of “invisible resistance” it can be very difficult to understand why another person seems so apparently “weak’ or “lazy” or “afraid”. For that matter, someone who has experienced one of these types of invisible resistance may find it hard to comprehend someone who is experiencing another kind.

It is so easy to judge; so inconvenient to take the time to educate ourselves on a given matter. But as one of the biblical proverbs reminds us:  “He who answers a matter before he hears it,
It is folly and shame to him.” Proverbs 18:13

While some things can never be fully understood until we, or someone we love, goes through it personally, there are still ways to learn and react in a positive way. Taking the time to educate ourselves on the topic at hand, to read or listen to firsthand accounts of people who have dealt with the issue  - or even simply to hold our tongue for the time being and to always remember to be compassionate. 

In this particular illustration, let’s ask ourselves “Why did that athlete perform so poorly compared to the others?” “Was there something bothering him or holding him back that we may not be aware of?” 

In real life – let’s take the time to find out before we judge.  Let’s take the time to find out so that we may instil confidence and encourage the athlete for his valiant effort.