"And the winner is . . . "

     
            
                Despite my criticisms of today’s celebrity culture, I must confess that I enjoy watching an occasional award show, like the recent Oscars program.  I find it refreshing to see people as they discover that they have been chosen and recognized for excellence in their artistic endeavors.  Now I realize that many of the winners are actors, but I like to think that some of the expressions of surprise and appreciation are actually genuine.

                The Oscar awards are usually for individuals but curiously, making a movie is definitely a group effort.  Various creative people come together—filming, editing, directing, acting—with the common purpose of artfully bringing a story to life for others to eventually see.  Even the most gifted individual could never produce what a group of talented people can do.

                The last Oscar award of the evening goes to the best picture.  As expected, “Argo,” the true story of the rescue of six Americans from Iran, was the lucky winner.  Ben Affleck had double duty as director and actor in this suspenseful flick, and he shared more than a simple thank you with his audience.  He referred to winning an Oscar fifteen years ago when he was “just a kid.”  Since that early success, he has had ups and downs in his life and in his career.  Then he talked about what he has learned.   

                He said he has learned  to work hard, really hard, in his personal and professional life.

                He spoke of the people sitting right there in the audience who had helped him even though they had nothing to gain by doing so.

                He described the importance of not holding on to grudges even when it’s “really hard” to let them go.

                And finally he spoke of persevering and “getting up” when hard times knock you down.  

                As I listened to these words, it seemed to me that love had carried him through—his love for his work, his love for his wife and kids, and the gracious love shown to him by others.  Persistent, prevailing love can be so very powerful in all of our lives, especially if its source is in God and His never failing strength, mercy and kindness.  In the midst of the glamour and glitz of Hollywood, I was reminded of qualities far more durable than silver and gold, fame or fortune.