7th December 2008

I have watched I think one episode of 'I am a celebrity...' Reality tv takes many forms these days but the thing that unites is the desire for the contestants to either be famous or revive their place in the public eye. How many of our young people, whether it is out of escapism or misguided career choices, just want to be famous. The enterprise, I nearly wrote industry, is self perpetuating - glossy mags, webcasts, tv interviews all designed to keep the profile up and perpetuate the fame game.

But that's just it, it feels like there is a real desire to be famous for famous sakes. Watching my one episode of 'I'm a celebrity...' and I asked my wife, 'Who's that?' and she doesn't know says something about us and the circles we move in, but also says something about being in the public eye - needing enough media attention to keep your name known and you picture shown, but not getting so much that the life you spread all over the international media doesn't get invaded by the press...

John the Baptist is the antithesis of celebrity culture. Whatever he does or says he points beyond himself, and points others there too, Godward,

'...John the Baptist stands as an example to us of one who is prepared, in all humility, to recognize that he is not the centre but the periphery; not the attraction but the signpost to the attraction; not the Light but the one who helps others to see the Light. Jesus’ calling to us all is that we pick up the ‘baton’ on John and become witnesses to the one who brings salvation to the world.

John the Baptist’s message of repentance involves a huge reorientation in which the centre of our being becomes no longer ourselves but one who is much, much greater.

The waiting we do at Advent reminds us of the importance of taking up John’s baton of witness and passing it on, and of re-orientating ourselves outwards from the centre of our lives so there is room for Jesus in the centre of our being...'
The Meaning is in the Waiting, page 76, by Paula Gooder.

John lives out God's kingdom values and as Advent people so should we. John is not the centre but the periphery. When God is at the centre, striving after celebrity pales into insignificance. When God is at the centre, those who are on the edge - the poor, the lonely, the sick, the grieving become the centre of our world, of God's world. When God is at the centre, my 15 minutes (and more if I can get it) of fame don't matter, others do.

This mentality is what society lacks, what Christmas lacks, what my life so often lacks. John the Baptist, teach us, show us and Maranatha, come Lord Jesus!