In case you hadn’t heard, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William had a baby in July. As a lifelong fan of the monarchy, I was among those eagerly awaiting this birth.
I blame my starry eyes on my grandmother, who was born and raised in Scotland. She married a Yank and became an American, but she never lost her fascination with British royalty. She talked about them so often that my mother and I inevitably came to share her passion. Anyway, that’s my excuse. But why were the rest of you so interested?
In part, of course, it was the media. It’s hard to ignore a story that’s covered so exhaustively. Partly, we were responding to an attractive, apparently pleasant couple rejoicing in one of life’s highpoints. Plus, most of us enjoy contemplating those whose lives seem grander than our own.
Buy why? What difference does it make in our lives if Oprah buys another house or Tom Cruise gets married again? Is celebrity gazing harmless entertainment or something spiritually unhealthy? C.S. Lewis said that the devil can’t create anything. All he can do is corrupt the natural drives God gave us. So what healthy desire has us keeping up with the Kardashians?
I think we have an innate desire to celebrate the outstanding figures among us. Fans begin the canonization process. Local admirers spread the word about a potential saint, and interest grows until the Vatican responds. We in Hawaii are justly proud of our role in introducing St. Damien and St. Marianne to the world.
We become fans because we’re trying to figure out how to best live our lives. We look for models within our family, our community and the wider world. Middle class kids wear droopy shorts and hoodies because they want to be as “bad” as their music idols. Other youth joined Pope Francis in Rio, because they thought he offered better guidance.
The obvious model for Christians to follow is Jesus, but that isn’t always easy. What aspect of his life should we imitate? We can’t all wander the country healing and preaching. Most of us will marry, raise children and hold very ordinary jobs. How do we do that in a Christ-like way? Saints, and even celebrities, can provide helpful examples or give us a jolt of inspiration when our spirits sag.
Every year, pollsters report which world figures excite the most admiration. Queen Elizabeth has appeared on the women’s list more than any other figure. Words like “dignity” and “devotion to duty” explain her appeal. Other names frequently mentioned are Rev. Billy Graham, Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela. Apparently, we’ll spend a couple bucks checking out People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive, but our hearts belong to those who appeal to “the better angels of our nature.” (That’s a quote from Abraham Lincoln, another top vote getter.)
It’s not being a fan that presents problems; it’s who we choose to admire — and why — that matter. A woman once told me I was a very special lady. My chest swelled up, and I smiled modestly. Then she said, “Of course, that specialness is Christ in you.” Thump. Back to earth.
That lady’s comment offers a good way to assess the time and energy we spend following our favorite athlete or actor. Does reading about these people inspire us? Does it lift our spirits, teach us wisdom or help us lead a more Christ-like life? If not, maybe we should put the magazine back on the newsstand and stick the three bucks in the nearest charity collection can instead. God is big fan of generosity.
Kathleen welcomes comments. Send them to Kathleen Choi, 1706 Waianuenue Ave., Hilo, HI 96720, or e-mail: kathchoi@hawaii.rr.com.
