So much has been in the news recently about Caitlyn/Bruce Jenner. Normally I stay so far away from this type of hype in my blogs, however this one is quite different. Over the last several days I have listened to media talk about Jenner and use words like "Courage" "Bravery" "Hero" "role-model" "Determination" "Strength", etc... and I think "What??".
I am thankful we live in a country where Jenner has the freedom to be whatever he/she wants to be. If he/she wants to change his/her gender have at it. Whatever I think or believe about the moral/spiritual/faith consequences are not what I am having the biggest problem with. He/She will have to answer to his/her Creator for the decisions made. My issue has come with labeling a person having a "selective" surgery with all the above mentioned adjectives.
I read an article today that Jenner will receive the ESPY Author Ashe Award for Courage. Jenner won this award over people like:
Lauren Hill: the 19 year old Mount St. Joseph basketball player who battled cancer while staying on the university team. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauren_Hill_(basketball)
Noah Galloway: The Iraqi veteran who lost most of an arm and a leg fighting, but still competes in extreme sports and finished 3rd in "Dancing with the Stars" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_Galloway
I understand this is "just an award", but the point being I can't even begin to fathom how Jenner was picked over those two. I can identify them with all of the above adjectives long before I could Jenner.
I believe our definitions are messed up when we start labeling someone in Hollywood with these words over a gender change, and it causes the words to become less of what they really are.
I know people that are more deserving of these titles than Jenner, but media will never publicize them.
"Courage", is our men and women in law enforcement like Gary Henderson, Van Duncan that keep our streets safe. They go in every day to a thankless job and are labeled crooked thanks to a selected few. They have courage in the face of the danger they face daily.
"Bravery", is our firefighters / EMT like Nick Robinson, Brian Meyers, Lonnie Kimbrough that run into a burning building when everyone else is running out.
"Hero", is our men and women that served in the military to keep our country and our freedom safe. People like my dad, father in law, brother in law, people I went to school with, and in my family. If you served my country YOU are a hero.
"Role-model", is our teachers out there, Rachel, Brian, Kelly, Melody... long hours, little pay, teaching those who don't want to be taught, filling up your classroom with items out of your own pocket. Teachers are best role-model next to parenthood.
"Determination", is single parents like Erin, raising three kids on her own. Trying to give her children the best possible life she can with the little she has. She is the picture of determination.
"Strength", is people like Myjenta, Crain, and Hope who fight PTSD (which you can't begin to understand unless you deal with), who have to find an inner strength to even try to have a normal life. Yet in the midst of dealing with it, they soar like eagles.
Media: these people deserve those titles much more than Jenner does.
But at the same time I hear Jenner being called "lunatic" "evil", and harsh things such as that. He/She is not deserving of those either. Jenner is someone who has just lost their way and desperately needs to know and understand Ephesians 2:10:
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
It's not about being "happy" with who you are, or trying to change who you are. This life is about discovering who you are and who God created you to be. This verse tells us that we are God's workmanship, or His masterpiece. Every flaw, everything we don't like about ourselves, and every blemish we have is covered in Jesus Christ. Discover who you are in Christ, there is where you find your fulfillment. You will never find it with any surgery, substance, or lifestyle.
Our real heroes are the one who work 12 hour shifts just to get by, the ones who go college and hold down full time job, the stay at home mom or dad, and the ones who work multiple jobs. These are the ones in the real world who never will get recognition.
The people I believe deserve the titles of courage, inspiring, bravery, hero, strength, and etc. are those who have discovered who they are in Christ and are using their gifts/talents for the upbuilding of His Kingdom. You will never find the media publicizing that or see it in a reality show.
I make no apologies if this blog offends you, it's my blog and you didn't have to read it. Please note I will also delete any negative comments.
Chris
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