Were it not for the fact that I have two teenagers, a boy and a girl, the names Demi Lovato and Kobe Bryant might be lost on me.....Really, they might. But my girl loved her Disney Channel, and my boy is right at this moment attending a Grizzlies Basketball game, so these two celebrity names were dropped and watched occasionally in our home. This has been a week of tweets and posts regarding the two- Kobe certainly more than Demi, I'm sure. And I don't mean to take anything away from that tragedy- because I too stayed glued to Fox News on Sunday, until I made myself get up and go to the doctor to get a shot for strep. However, Demi hasn't been too far from my mind either. She wouldn't have been, if I hadn't tuned in to the Grammy's Sunday night. (Yes, I'm sure there were better things I could do.) But my interest was piqued as Demi took the stage to sing. I knew some of her back story, because of my teenage daughter. I knew that she had struggled with anxiety, depression, substance abuse and overdosed, then was in rehab. This would be her first performance since being hospitalized- and this message was NOT lost on me. Some of her lyrics...."a hundred million stories and a hundred million songs, I feel stupid when I sing; Nobody's listening to me...I talk to shooting stars but they always get it wrong, I feel stupid when I pray, so why am I praying anyway if nobody's listening.. Anyone, please send me anyone. Lord is there anyone, I need someone..."
I was moved to tears. Not because I follow Demi on Instagram and know her so well and watched all her movies. But because my heart hurt for her. And because if I'm honest, how many people do I come in contact with everyday who feel this way. And if I'm being REALLY honest, how many times have I felt that way?
And I was moved to tears watching Fox News. Not because I followed Kobe on Instagram and I watched all of his games and am a huge fan, but because my heart hurt for his family- and the families of all the others who died that day. And because I do come in contact with people EVERYDAY down the street or in the halls or on Facebook who did lose someone they love.
Maybe I'm not making sense here.
My point is....
What is eternal?
I'll probably never meet Demi Lovato or Kobe Bryant's family. I'll never have the opportunity to minister to them. Sure, I can pray for them.
But my mind is more on their souls. Did Kobe know the Lord? Does Demi? More personally- does my neighbor? My co-worker? My family? Does my life even reflect that I do?
I was reminded once again today that we waste A LOT of time on things that ARE. NOT. ETERNAL. I'm so guilty. (I'll refrain from listing my TV shows here....)
But aren't we all caught up in the insignificant? Games, fame, music, grades, trophies, money, food, clothes, other's opinions, sleep... (ok, my own toes are hurting.)
I was bent out of shape a week ago over test scores. NOT ETERNAL.
One of my sweet first grade babies told me today that she invited Jesus in her heart. ETERNAL!!!!! Praise God!! Somebody's eyes are focused on things unseen!
My prayer is that I will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading when He puts a Demi in my life- one who is begging for anyone who will listen. May I be that someone.
Or when I feel like no one is listening and that my prayers don't matter- remind me that He is listening.
Or when He puts a Bryant family, or an Altobelli family, or a Mauser family or Chester family or Zobayan family in my path, He will give me words of comfort and the message of hope that they can have in Him.
That is eternal.
And if I'm not sensitive to the Spirit's leading- that is also eternal.
Colossians 3:1-3
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
