Human
beings that invented a trick or scheme
and are able to actually execute it magnificently, providing that enough other
human beings like what they did or do, are honored with an elevated status and granted a higher level of authority. They get to appear in prominent talk
shows, get interviewed by renowned journalists and their TED Talks get multiple
zero hits. They get to play with the other elevated human beings that, because of being around at the right time and place, and much to their own surprise, found themselves having fallen upward.
Authority,
derived from achievements, usually have a short life span; it is the most
delicate of the various authority sources. The great actor with whom half the
world would love to have their picture taken with, and whose achievements are
vaunted infinitely, can easily and quickly become tomorrow’s reprobate. A lesser
acting achievement in his latest movie, a bug in the latest software upgrade, or a speeding ticket for the senior pastor are not the cause. After all, a lesser
acting performance, a speeding ticket and a bug can be redeemed and crossed out by past and future better
performances.
The weak
spots in character revealed by circumstances or other people are for the media
what fast-food is for the barely thinking consumer – devoured and processed
quickly and via the sewage system ending up at the bottom of the Eco-system. Washed,
cut, shaven and blow-dried; judgment has been passed – I never really liked him
as an actor; there was something….
My struggle
these days, with all the kerfuffle around recently fallen and yet to fall Acting-, Church-, IT-, and whatever gods, is that this kerfuffle is
surrounded with a smell of hypocrisy. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m
influenced too much by the words of Rabbi Jesus addressing a crowd and
designated executioners of a woman that was caught in adultery. He said: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the
first to throw a stone at her” (they all backed off!). [1]
Just to be
absolutely clear: the weaknesses in my character are by far not as bad or big as these
of the real crooks!
I think.
John
8 [1] At dawn he appeared again in the temple
courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach
them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in
adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher,
this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us
to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a
trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and
started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning
him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without
sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on
the ground. 9 At this, those who heard
began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was
left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked
her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I
condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
