In a shrinking world, it seems like everybody knows somebody. In 1984 there was a movie filmed in our backyard called “Country” starring Jessica Lange and Sam Shepard. We knew the auctioneer in the film and some of those extra’s that came to the auction. We even went to the same high school as the young man, Levi, that played Jessica and Sams’ teen son. The church that Jessica and Sam went to in the film was one that my daddy had pastored just three years earlier, so we knew some of the churchgoing extra’s.
So I bet I could do six degrees to Kevin Bacon and a few other Hollywood stars. I’ve been excited more recently than the 80′s to know some celebrities. Kyle Orton the Chicago Bears Quarterback was a member of a church I served when he was in high school. We’re not buddies, so don’t think I can get an autograph. Had I known I would have gotten one earlier in his career. This summer I found out that one of my church campers is now a guitar player for Christian artist TobyMac, actually one of my favorite artists. Tim Rosenau was a pretty good musician back in junior high. I remember him doing soundtracks on his keyboard in the 1990′s. I already have Toby’s autograph back when he was in DCTalk.
So what are your six degrees to celebrity fame? Shaken hands with a president? Touched the hem of Elvis’ shiny outfits? (it’s a biblical thing about touching the kings hem)
One thing I have done is touched the lives of celebrities. I’ve prayed for our presidents and their wives and for our governors and their wives. I have prayed for Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman. I have prayed for Kyle Orton – probably laid hands on him in prayer. I have prayed for Tim Rosenau. I have communed with both of these last two young men. I’ve prayed for these and others for the purpose of God’s movement in their lives and the potential witness their fame can bring the world, if they knew Jesus. Some of these do and some, well I can’t answer for them on their faith. But by the power of prayer and the power of God at work in lives that can be influential, Greater things than just fame can happen. So keep on praying for our nations leaders and people of influence. Six degrees (or less) of connection can possibly transform lives. It’s not just about who you know, unless the Who is God!
