Are You Popular? Do You Want to Be?

When I see depressing creatures
I  remind them on their own behalf
With unprepossessing features
To think of Celebrated heads of state or
Specially great communicators
Did they have brains or knowledge?
Don't make me laugh!He,he!
They were popular! Please -

I can hear Glinda singing now, Miss Popularity, from Wicked.

How about you? Are you popular? Were you popular as a child? Do you crave popularity?

How do you define popularity?

Webster's Dictionary defines it as: widely accepted, commonly liked or approved.

I believe on some level we all want to be accepted, liked, and approved. The question becomes what are we willing to do, and who are we willing to become in order to make that happen.

Here are a few quotes I like on the subject of popularity:

Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, and riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character. ~Horace Greeley 

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Suess

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

It's tempting to compromise our beliefs and our character in order to be popular, but I wonder if its worth it.

Do you think popular people are really any happier, or might they be living in fear that their popularity will pass?

Jesus has something to say to His disciples about popularity in Luke 6:26-30:

"There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them.

Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.

To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life." (MSG)

So, for those of us who long to have the most popular blog, the most friends, the largest church, or fame and riches . . . maybe that's not what life is all about.

Rather than popularity may we pursue truth, character, and integrity.

What do you think?