The Pedestal Revisited

Today I once again watched someone with everything in the world to lose take both hands and throw it all away because of a series of bad decisions. I first wrote about this when Tiger Woods was going through his train wreck. I was amazed then and it continues to boggle my mind that some people never consider the ramifications of their behavior. While I certainly understand the temptations people are faced with I sure don't approve of them throwing caution to the wind along with their families and a boatload of other people who held them in high esteem.
I admit to a certain degree of frustration with the media who feels the need to pick and pick at something until they feel certain they've dug down to the truth. It has been my experience they continue to delve ever deeper and at some point began to find demons under every rock they find. After all, if you really want to you can make something evil out of just about anything.
All in all, I'm pretty tired of "famous" people whose problems get played out in front of the world for all to see. Aren't we lucky that WE are invisible humans and get to "hide" our stuff in our own lives where few see and even fewer know. Somehow that makes us feel better about ourselves.
However, you can't help but think about a person's position. We hold certain individuals up to the light of scrutiny after we have placed them on a teetering pedestal of human frailty. When the pedestal breaks and the person falls, depending on our own stake in their future, we judge them accordingly. Sometimes our own judgements are colored with convenient morality. We are willing to overlook things because it might affect us in some way if we insist on a higher level of integrity.
In my opinion, there was only One Who could stand on such a pedestal and be worthy of the position. How interesting that He didn't want to be on the pedestal, what he chose was a lowly cross with a couple of flawed humans.
Be careful who you place on your pedestal because while you are looking up at them you might miss the quiet voice whispering in your ear. He will not stand above you but He will walk beside you, comfort and sustain you and give you immeasurable peace.
So, today, I would like for us all to think about Who is on our pedestal. Who do we hold up as our example of how to live, how to treat others, how to forgive and most of all, how to endure?