Last weekend I watched the 2014 Golden Globes hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. It’s one of only two awards shows that I will sit through each year, with the other one being the Oscars. There is only one main reason why I usually tune into only these two year after year, even when there are so many other awards shows on television these days. That’s simply because of my love of movies, as both a Golden Globe and an Oscar represent two of highest achievements that can be made in that industry here. But there is something that’s been bothering me in recent years with the both of them, which I continued to notice in this year’s Golden Globes. Why is it so rare for any of these major movie stars to take a moment on the red carpet or during their acceptance speeches to thank their Higher Power for their achievements?
While I’m not famous in this life yet, at least not on earthly standards, I’m in a place now where I always try to offer my gratitude to my Higher Power (which I refer to as God) for every achievement I make. Having made it this far in life through all the dysfunctionality, drama, and disasters I’ve been through, I give God full credit for it today. That wasn’t always the case though.
For the longest time I took full credit for any accomplishment I made in life. When I used to swim competitively in high school and finished in the top three positions during a meet, I honestly can’t remember ever bowing my head and giving God thanks for it. When I received several awards for scholastic achievements during my college years, I can’t remember doing it then either. This is also true for the times I was congratulated in various ways after college by employers for my hard work. And the same holds true for any of the other recognitions I received for anything until just a few years ago when I began realizing just how self-absorbed I really was.
Thank God, this is no longer the case for me. While I may have put hard work into my swimming, my college studies, my places of employment, any many other things, I believe today that it was God who gave me all of the talent and drive to get there. This is what baffles me greatly with so many movie stars. Do any of them feel the same way about how they got to where they’re at today? I only ask this because I didn’t once hear the word God or any Higher Power mentioned during a single speech or interview this past Sunday night at the Golden Globes. Instead, it seemed to be the same as usual with each of the actors and actresses. They thanked each other, their families and friends, and the various industry based individuals and companies who represented them, but I don’t remember any of them ever thanking a Higher Power. Do none of them believe that God gave them their talent or that God put those people and companies in their lives to get them to that very place of recognition?
I think about things like this so much more these days. Maybe it’s because I was very self-centered for way too long. Or maybe it’s because I used to give myself all the credit for any of the recognitions I once got in life. Nevertheless, the only thing I can really say about the matter is this. If I’m ever given the chance to accept any award again in this lifetime, you can be sure that you will hear me thank God before anyone or anything else. Regardless of those people or companies or things that played a large role in getting me there, I deeply believe that God would have been the one to place me in all of their paths. I also deeply believe that any talent that got me there in the first place would have come from the drive God gave me long before.
So whether I’ll ever achieve any type of fame in this lifetime or not, my primary thanks will always go to God for all of the awards, achievements, and accomplishments I’ve made or will continue to make throughout life. Hopefully one day more of those actors and actresses will do the same at those prestigious awards shows like the Globes. Until then, I remain grateful for any of them who do remember to thank God, as it truly was God who guided them to receive their recognition in the first place…
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson