In the movie, "A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood" Tom Hanks plays the children's' television host, Mr. Rogers. A hard nosed reporter has been assigned to interview him. During the interview, the reporter asks Mr. Rogers if he considers himself famous. Mr. Rogers says that fame is a four letter word- meaning I suppose that there is a good side and bad side to fame.
The late great pop artist, Andy Warhol was known for his unique ability to see things in different ways. His multicoloured picture of Marilyn Monroe. He is also known for making an iconic picture of Campbell's soup cans. He said that in the future everyone would have 15 minutes of fame.
Most of us never have to worry about fame. There is just not enough time for 7.5 billion people to get 15 minutes in the limelight. In fact that would take 214,000 years for everyone to get their 15 minutes in the sun. Of course more than one person can be famous at a time but you get the point. Most of us will never know what it's like to be famous. Most of us will never know if fame is a four letter word or not.
I did have my brush with fame. When I went to Australia, I was interviewed by the local paper when I started my work with Neutral Bay Uniting Church. I thought it would be the normal type piece- minister from Canada comes to local church. But the reporter seized on the fact that I was a married gay man and a minister. In a country that was undergoing major discussions at the time about making same sex marriage legal, my little story became big news. My story was the headline on the front page of a local paper delivered to 250,000 people. Other media outlets picked up on this story. Suddenly here was me, the boy from Moose Jaw, trending nationally on twitter. Radio shock jocks and television talk shows were phoning to interview me. For a week, my phone was ringing non-stop. But the thing is I was called to work in Australia by a congregation I loved. My work was not to promote me. So I declined any further media requests and the fury of phone calls soon stopped and life went back to the normal. The story did arise again just a bit when the first paper that interviewed me in January ran their annual top news stories features at the end of Year. I was named me the top news story for February over some little known actor Mel Gibson who had attended a store opening in in the suburb of Mosman. But there were no shock jocks wishing to speak to me about that. I was yesterday's news For me, fame was something I did not want or crave and I am glad that I was no longer today's news, but I can always tell myself that for one brief moment I was more famous then Mel Gibson.
Much has been made of Prince Harry's and Meghan's decision to step back from public life and live between Canada and the UK. I wish them well on this. However, almost assuredly they won't be able to escape fame like I did. Harry's Mom, Diana, was killed because of her fame. Harry was or maybe still is sixth in line for the British Throne. Harry was famous from the day he was born. Meghan was a famous television actress who married a royal. Because of who they are, they are some of the most famous people in the world. As demonstrated by the paparazzi who caught pictures of Meghan last week as she walked with Baby Archie, they will not be able to escape the fame. People are now more interested in this couple who have decided to give up their royal titles. Their fame will never be quenched.
The old maxim tells us to be careful for what we wish for and I think it is particularly true with fame, money, position, and power. These things that we strive for (or in Harry's case are thrust upon them at birth) might be good but they also have the ability to change us or control us. Are we ready for that change? Blessings.
Much has been made of Prince Harry's and Meghan's decision to step back from public life and live between Canada and the UK. I wish them well on this. However, almost assuredly they won't be able to escape fame like I did. Harry's Mom, Diana, was killed because of her fame. Harry was or maybe still is sixth in line for the British Throne. Harry was famous from the day he was born. Meghan was a famous television actress who married a royal. Because of who they are, they are some of the most famous people in the world. As demonstrated by the paparazzi who caught pictures of Meghan last week as she walked with Baby Archie, they will not be able to escape the fame. People are now more interested in this couple who have decided to give up their royal titles. Their fame will never be quenched.
