Just read an article in SATURDAY. It was an interview with a Nobel laureate which was very insightful, it was a pity its title choose to emphasize the fact that he got a D in chemistry in class (like how uncommon is it to see successful people have a bad start, oh well).
Anyway, he is Professor Peter Courtland, and he is very passionate about promoting science among the young. Among his responses, he mentioned that he offered to trade in his Nobel Prize for two weeks on The Colbert Report. Why? Because the show is watched by throngs of people that he would have been able to give a great exhibition of science to the public, and dispel many predispositions which young people had towards science. He also said he considered running for the Senate in 2004, so that he could make a difference with such a position of influence. He also advised scientists who have already reached the upper echelons of science to have a go at politics, for similar reasons.
And throughout reading the article, Xiang's talk with the unit about a month ago was at the back of my head. For the professor, he wanted to use platforms where he could influence to make a difference, to show many people the side of science they never knew. Likewise, if God's people were to hold such positions of influence or publicize themselves through mediums which have very wide coverages, imagine what a difference they could make!
Regarding mediums which have wide reaches, there are many. There is MTV, which Xiang talked about in her vision. Of course, TV shows are one of the best examples of such mediums. Why was Singapore 's video clip to be shown before the IOC made their decision to give the 2012 Olympics to London treated so seriously? It was because virtually the whole world's eyes were on Singapore. Yes, eagerly anticipating that decision, but the fact that the clip was scheduled to be aired just before that made all the difference, with reports saying that the video clip is worth billions in advertising terms.
Of course, the medium which stirs up much interest in me is that of sports. In particular, soccer. Many of us just have an inherent liking for one sport or another. And even though we only get to watch it on TV, we are awed by it. For example, I probably couldn't stand a moment away from the TV if Arsenal were to be playing in the champions league final (which they SHOULD be, but nevertheless this is irrelevant here). And football stars are huge idols which people look up to nowadays. When Drogba told people in his homeland, Cote de' Voire, to stop the internal civil strife and unite as one to support the nation's football team, the people listened - and the conflict is now reduced dramatically. When Zidane delivered that shocking headbutt in the world cup final, people criticized him badly for the negative impact it would have on audiences. (and, people DO follow him, just look at what Nani did last week). And even more recently, in TIME magazines list of 100, there was but one footballer. It wasn't Drogba. It obviously wasn't Zidane, and it wasn't Cristiano Ronaldo either.
It was Kaka. And yes, he is indeed one of the most skillful players on the planet, but that wasn't the only reason he got into the list. It is his exploits outside of football, that he has used his status of being of the best players on the planet to achieve, that has got him onto the list. For one, he is an ambassador of the UN, influencing many people in poverty. And of course, he is a very evangelical christian. Apart from the joy of seeing Liverpool lose, I learnt so much more from last year's champions league final. After Milan won, he took of his shirt to reveal the words 'I belong to Jesus', and the following quote from a premier league player says it all:
It is indeed so refreshing to see someone like Kaka. Now he just needs to make the decision to come to Arsenal, the team who plays football in its purest form. =p
I might question whether soccer stadiums are the right venue for promoting religion, but in an age in which many professional athletes care more about cars, women and controversy, it's refreshing to see one who is committed to having a positive impact on the world around him.
Anyway, I have cited so many examples of people making the best of their status to influence others. And this is really something which I want to emulate. Right now, of course, my heart is saying football is the medium in which I want to cause much influence. But how? I have no idea. Obviously, I will not be a professional player, unless I do a Dave Kitson. Perhaps I could be Jose Mourinho's expansion pack with my sarcastic and critical tone. Now that would be the joke of the century. But oh well, whatever comes calling, be it in politics, business, or even in science, I really want to be able to influence others in the future. Right now, obviously I have inclinations towards certain areas, but the finish line is still an absolute blur. So please, pray that there will be signs for me, and that I would not be afraid to step out of my comfort zone in whatever I'm asked to do.
Lastly, to end of, I feel it is of course important to enjoy this journey. A couple of weeks ago on American Idol, one of the biggest shocks took place when Carly was eliminated despite producing at the very least, the 2nd best performance during the previous night. Well, that's democracy for you. Nevertheless, many have speculated that it was because of the song she sang, 'Jesus Christ Superstar', that caused her to lose votes from the people who do not have a personal relationship with God. And we will never know if it was because of that, or because ABC intentionally rigged the votes to make supporters even more fearful and so would end up voting more for their favourites and thus contribute more revenue to the company. The point was that Carly had no regrets with her song choice, unlike some other eliminated contestants who admitted they messed up their song choices. Carly was determined to use the opportunity she had on Idol. And she succeeded. She entertained, she enjoyed herself, and even Simon had nothing but praise for her. Never mind that she's out, she had no regrets and did not feel disappointed at all. God must have been so proud of her.
That's the kind of spirit that I want to have.
