Cyndi’s 11/19 Talk: Admiration

Admiration

I clearly have people I admire, both from near and far.

I deeply admire Cuyler, Karyn, Ezra and lot of people in this room. I also admire Taylor Swift for her talent, business savvy, and adorable bangs.

Being famous or the “best” in a field definitely opens you up to more people’s admiration, but which kind of admiration is better?

Proverbs 22:1 New Living Translation (NLT)

22 Choose a good reputation over great riches;

being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.

I think about the pressure and desire to be really special, and have recognition, and be admired. I think to some extent everyone has that. So recently Naomi and I were talking about it and this question came up. If I was never really extraordinary, would I be okay with that? If you were never the “best” or the “most” in something, and you never became famous, but you lived your life well, would God’s and your closest friend’s love and admiration be enough?

I have come to view individuals more like a specific piece of art rather than a piece of equipment, maybe like a computer or phone or car or something that has to be faster or the best of something to have value.

It definitely crosses into cheesy territory, but I think the configuration of qualities and personality is just as important as how strong the qualities themselves are. So even if you aren’t the mona lisa, you might be more like someone’s favorite piece of art and deeply cherished.

One of the reasons I’ve started to feel this way is because of this larger than life picture of my face that cuyler printed out and put on the wall. It’s a little ridiculous, I know. I may never be on the cover of a magazine, but my face is here, and that brings me great joy.

One of my other favorite pieces of art is Ari’s picture of me, (side note, I really think it’s fun when you guys do doodles or sketches of me, might be my vain side, IDK). It’s one of my favorite pieces of art, because I love her, but also because you can clearly see how fond of me she is in this picture. And it’s super specific.

Now, don’t go make a shrine of somebody, that’s weird, but you get the point.

The better someone knows me, the better I have come to value it.

(Break up into groups)

Is it better to be admired by a lot of people, or very deeply admired by a few?

What are the pros and cons of both?

Proverbs 29:25 New Living Translation (NLT)

25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap,
but trusting the Lord means safety.

(fearing people can also mean fearing what they think of you)

Proverbs 18:24 English Standard Version (ESV)
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother,

Do you have to know someone well to love them truly or deeply?

Psalm 139:1-4
You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.