Have you ever walked into a store and been dogged by the sales staff when you wish they would leave you alone? If you’re like me, you want to browse the store a bit, get a feel for products and prices, and maybe you’ll try something on or maybe you’ll walk out and hit the next store. I prefer to shop on my own—and if I decide to have a conversation with a salesperson, I will approach them.
But sometimes salesmen won’t leave you alone. They keep coming at you, keep trying to talk, keep pushing and pushing, until their persistence drives you right out of the store.
That’s what it feels like to be famous: you walk into a restaurant or a market hoping to shop by yourself. But people keep coming at you, trying to strike up a conversation, watching you, side-eyeing your every move. They know who you are and everything you do will become their next post on social media. Better be nice—although some will assume the worst no matter what you do.
Celebrity is a two-edged sword.
Many want to be famous until they are. The invasion of privacy is relentless—you have no privacy. People say ‘yes’ to your ideas, even when you need someone to say ‘no.’ Everyone expects you to pay for everything. There are stalkers who follow your every move, putting you in real danger.
When my step-grandfather Dr. Jesse Manning was the mayor of Kingsville, he took to carrying a gun even while jogging. When people telephoned his home with death threats, he said, “Okay, you come right ahead. I’ll be carrying my .38.”
Jesus was a celebrity.
Anyone who can heal the sick and raise the dead is going to attract a lot of attention. Naturally.
“Jesus was going all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people … So they brought to Him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics. And He healed them. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan” Matthew 4:23-25
One reason Jesus came to earth was to share the good news with as many as He could. His mission from Isaiah 61:1-2 included preaching to the poor, proclaiming freedom to captives, and setting free the oppressed (Luke 4:18). To do that, He needed to reach the masses. But at the same time, Jesus required and fiercely protected His solitude. He needed time alone to pray. He had to find ways to escape the crush of the crowds and get alone with His Father.
Jesus was the biggest rock star of His time, but He cherished His solitude and never allowed His celebrity status to rob Him of quality time with the Father.
God, help us appreciate privacy, solitude, and anonymity. Never let busy-ness or fame interfere with our time alone with You.
ΑΩ
*My analogy about being pestered while shopping is based on what I know of fame, but not on any personal experience! I still possess 100% of my privacy. Ha ha.
Household Words: 