Fame, Social Media, Jesus and Me.
I have been struggling lately with the idea of fame. My entire life, I thought for sure that I would end up with my name in lights. Call it an only child complex. When I was 5, it was a famous ballerina. When I was 10, it was a famous singer/actress. At 15, it was a famous hip-hop dancer. By 20, I had conceded to being “famous in my field”, whatever that turned out to be. I didn’t have to grace the cover of Vogue, but I did at least want people in my profession to know who I was and respect my work.
It seems as though from day one, I have been convinced that the only way to make it in this world is to become “famous”. The movie Fame had a huge influence on me when I saw it as a little girl. I wanted to be the kids in that movie. Here are the lyrics to the title song:
And tell me what you see
You ain’t seen the best of me yet.
Give me time,
I’ll make you forget the rest.
I got more in me,
And you can set it free
I can catch the moon in my hand
Don’t you know who I am?
Remember my name. Fame!
I’m gonna live forever
I’m gonna learn how to fly–high!
I feel it comin’ together
People will see me and cry. Fame!
I’m gonna make it to heaven
Light up the sky like a flame. Fame!
I’m gonna live forever
Baby, remember my name
Remember, remember, remember, remember,
Remember, remember, remember, remember.
We all want to be noticed, recognized, respected and remembered. But the words to this song, now that I look back, are a bit disturbing. Becoming famous will not secure for me eternal life, even if my name is on everyone’s lips for years and years. It will also not help me “make it to heaven”. And people remembering me will not make me any less mortal.
Sometimes I wonder how much of this thinking still influences the choices I make today. I often feel that blogging and social media outlets, when I get down the core of it, are just ways to feed my ego. Yes, I love to write, and yes, I love the idea that things I share may touch someone else. But when I am truly honest with myself, that is not why I do it. In some small way, I do it to fulfill that desire for fame that the little girl inside of me still longs for. To know that people approve of me. To know that I have many “friends” and “followers”. To share with people how amazing my life is in 120 characters. To see how many hits I get on my blog, or how many comments on my latest post.
Then I look at Jesus, and the way he led His life. He was the Savior of the world, which I would consider to be a pretty big deal. I would venture to say that He is one of the most famous figures in history. But these were His words…”everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). He also took pains during his earthly ministry to hide his own identity as the Messiah. He lived and taught that those who are famous in this world are not the most important. So why do I strive so hard after a small taste of fame?
It seems to me that God does most of His miracles among the unknown, the downcast, the lonely, and the unwanted. His kingdom comes in the quiet places. It isn’t proclaimed from the rooftops, it’s experienced in the hidden corners of life. I want to be part of that, and I feel like He is calling me to do a quiet work. I’m not saying that blogging and social media is wrong. I am just in a season of examining my own motives.
Thoughts? Reactions?
I confess that I have had the same feelings. “The last shall be first and the first shall be last”. The Kingdom of God just turns everything upside down and inside out. Jesus’ disciples wanted fame and jockeyed for a position in the Kingdom, but the Master had to school them too. Despite all of this, I still think fame is OK and sometimes can’t be avoided. It then becomes a matter of how one handles it.
Much agreed! Sometimes once people get fame they realize how toxic it can actually be.