Whom Do You Admire?
There has been a slight outcry regarding my recent post “World Champions of Triviality“. On her own initiative, Kimberly Harris, our sister-in-law, wrote the following response to some of the concerns. We appreciate the gracious and gentle way with which she addresses and clarifies the issues and pray that you might be challenged by her words.
I think that this last post has struck a chord with many of you, considering all of the responses. I would like to address particularly Sarah’s post.
I realize that this might be a sensitive issue to you, Sarah, since one of your family members is involved in beauty pageants. But I do think that you are rather missing the point of the post. Brett was not saying that those who are in sports or beauty pageants cannot be heroes or do great things. But the fact is often that the reason they are so glorified in our country is because of trivial things. They are often not famous for all of the amazing courageous things they do, but are famous because of their beauty or talent. On the other side, Brett brought up some of the nurses that cared for his niece in the NICU (his niece by the way is my daughter).
One of the nurses he mentioned was Colleen. Now Colleen was very beautiful and could have been involved in beauty pageants. But I don’t think that being in, or winning a beauty pageant is something that should make us all feel that she is a hero. It might be a neat thing to win, but does that make her a hero and worthy of attention, prestige, and honor? I would say not. However, I feel that her work in the NICU is very worthy of praise and admiration. These NICU nurses are dealing with a lot of pain and suffering and it’s very hard on their hearts. She is courageously trying to help save lives, and that included trying to save the life of my daughter. She is beautiful, she may have won beauty pageants, but I think that the best thing about her is what she has done for all those babies in dire circumstances.
Now many of you have made the point that those who are involved with sports or pageants often do great things. I think that can be true and I don’t think that Brett was trying to deny that. But like I said before, the reasons they are so glorified are the wrong ones. If they were so highly esteemed because of acts of courage they had done, then many ugly non-talented people would be just as honored as them. But, as proof of how trivial we can be, it’s the beautiful ones, and those who have talents like cup-stacking, and hitting balls who receive all the attention and honor. While the hard working nurse, missionary, doctor, etc usually receive little or no attention.
I don’t think that you should take this post as “let’s bash all who are famous”. But rather you should ask the question, who do you admire most and why? Do you admire men that can do amazing physical feats more then you admire men who have sacrificed their lives and their time and money to raise a godly family and further the kingdom of God? Do you admire Miss America because she is beautiful more then a mother who sacrificed her body, life and time to raise godly children? To whom does your greatest admiration go?
February 21st, 2006 at 9:15 pm
Thank you Kimberly for sharing your heart on this topic. You and Joel have been such an example to me of this true heroism. God bless.
In Christ,
sarah r.
February 21st, 2006 at 9:31 pm
Perhaps it was not clear that my main concern is the demeaning way that it was written, which was addressed by this caveat later: “We realize that the sarcasm and satire has overshadowed our disclaimers, and indeed, the foundational purpose and message of the post.”
While I appreciate your response, my concern still lies in the tone of the entry - most noteably this statement: “I find it hard to respect intelligent, humanitarian-minded women who resort to prancing around on stage in bikinis to gain recognition.”
I found the article in contention to be unnecessarily harsh and belittling.
February 21st, 2006 at 9:31 pm
Thanks!
February 21st, 2006 at 11:21 pm
Thank you, Kimmy! You said beautifully what I so desperately felt, but couldn’t put in words!
February 22nd, 2006 at 12:52 am
Thank you, Kimmy, I love you.
February 22nd, 2006 at 3:04 am
I am a new reader to your blog and I am encouraged by what I see! I agree with what you, Brett and Kimberly, are saying about this topic. I didn’t find the article too judgmental or condemning either.
The question is, where is our focus? Are we depending on Christ to fill the void in our lives? Or, are we filling it with temporal things of this world?
Praise the Lord for the work you guys are doing!
February 22nd, 2006 at 4:28 am
I agree wholeheartedly with Brett’s post and with Kimberly’s comments. I also find it hard to respect women who prance around in their underwear and try to value their “minds” when all that seems to be visible are their bodies (which, is a temptation for most men, even Christian men.) Sarcasm is a powerful tool in the hands of skilled users. Even Elijah used sarcasm when goading on the heathen to their “absentee” god.
February 22nd, 2006 at 6:43 am
Fantastic post!
This is definitely one of your best.
Keep it up guys!
~ In Christ, John.
February 22nd, 2006 at 2:57 pm
I came across this website on my younger sister’s site and have been reading it with much pleasure!
That was really good!! Thank you for posting it.
I’ve been reading Richard Maybury’s “What Would Thomas Jefferson Think About This?” In Issues 15 and 16 he points out that the Statistic Viewpoint of the American Revolution is that it was all for personal gain, and yes it was, but they made sacrifices and did it for the good of their country and family. He, Maybury, tells us that Sacrifice has lost its meaning in this world and we need to watch out for who are going to listen to and who look up to.
I think this viewpoint should help us understand that we need to really look at who and what we are admiring before we say, “Oh, I’m definitely going to do what he says!”
Oh, dear you’re probably wondering why in the world did I say all that? It has nothing to do with what this post is about. And you would probably be quite right. I’m so bad at putting what I want to say into words that I often lose track of what I was saying.
Well, I started this comment because I thougt what I was thinking had something in common with what you said; I hope it still does.
Sorry if it is confusing.
February 22nd, 2006 at 2:59 pm
Oh! What a funny little face that is! I didn’t know it would do that; I didn’t mean to make an angry face, I ment to make a sorry face.
February 22nd, 2006 at 3:46 pm
Dear JennyAnyDots: Your comment did have to do with our post! It is sacrifice (laying down your “life” for others) that makes a true hero, and the recovery of its meaning is the first step towards honoring the individuals who practice it. Thank you for sharing!
February 22nd, 2006 at 6:36 pm
this whole thing is very interesting, because i like ballroom dancing and have been watching the “reality show” on this. One of the contestants is very talented and i was really enjoying her dancing–until i looked her up online and found she was involved in women’s wrestling (which is not really wrestling, it’s showing off their bodies). and i was disgusted. for her to waste her mind and talent to just become a soft-porn star is sick. it’s trivial, and it’s a waste. i hope i can still be charitable to her by God’s grace, but her day job really disgusted me.
thanks for bringing this back up again, y’all! keep up the good work.
February 24th, 2006 at 4:52 pm
Thank you Brett and Kimberly for your excellent posts. It’s so easy for us to get caught up in the frenzy and excitement of momentary “trivial” things, and I think that part of the problem for Christians is that we fail to look at these things in the light of their eternal value.
January 16th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Women’s Extreme Wrestling…
Nice blog, very interesting post… check out my Mickie James site!…