I apologize in advance for this post. I swore to myself an oath that I would not get sucked into the Michael Jackson mania. But, I did get sucked in just a little. So there it is.
I've been observing over the last week or so the amazing outpouring of obsessive worship toward Michael Jackson. It's weird. Weirder than him. And, that's saying something.
What did Michael Jackson mean to me? Not a lot. I knew of him in his prime. I mean, what teenager couldn't do every step of the Thriller dance? Don't EVEN try to deny it because I won't believe you. From there, he went downhill in a big way and I tried not to notice.
I struggled not to watch an inch of coverage of his memorial service. It was impossible. It was everywhere. Even on the TVs in the gym when I was on the elliptical. Can't a girl sweat without Michael Jackson in her face? Not lately.
I started considering his life, his legacy and why he is so beloved and reviled all at the same time. Here are a few of my thoughts.
First of all, poor Michael had an awful childhood. We can all agree to that. His dad was a tyrant, according to him, and he suffered at his hand and his greed. That wrote on his soul in a way that he never could recover. He tried. All his life he attempted to reclaim a childhood that was always just out of his grasp.
He loved himself. Who would name all three of his children after himself if he wasn't in awe of his own being. He was clearly striving for that perfect look. He overshot that one by about 37 surgeries. In his quest for perfect beauty he became ugly. In his quest for peace and happiness he became more tortured and miserable. In his quest for rest he seemingly turned to a drug that cost him his life. He was a sad vexed soul because there is only one Person in whom we find peace and Michael Jackson did not know Him. No matter how much money, fame, adoration, exotic animals, plastic surgeries, and countries you travel - these things are not the source of joy, peace and contentment. Only the Lord can give you that. Is there a better example of this than Michael Jackson?
Michael Jackson's death is sad and tragic, not because he died. Not because his sweet faced little girl cried tears of grief before a worldwide audience professing her love for her daddy (which broke my heart). Not because it seems his life was cut short by drugs. His death is tragic because today and for all eternity he is separated from the love of God Who is just.
May his death be a wake up call for all those living in rebellion to the Lord and may the Lord be glorified in it.
The same goes for poor Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon who quickly took second billing to Michael Jackson. Their strive for fame fell short even in death. Poor them.
3 comments:
I agree with every word you said.
What a world we live in, huh?
ChristyB
i agree as well.
does anyone remember who died less than a week after princess diana in 1997?
this person didn't get any where near the same attention...and had much more reason for praise.
tanyab
I was able to avoid all of the coverage of his death and memorial as I was grieving my own mother's death at the time and planning her funeral. I don't recommend that to others but it worked for me. That, plus we committed to no TV for the month and it has worked out nicely. We have continued to keep the TV off.
Was Farrah a non-believer too? I don't know anything about her but I thought I heard one of her friends is now a Christian and was witnessing to her. I guess we won't know till later.
Post a Comment