What is 15 Minutes of Fame?

According to Andy Warhol, every person will get '15 minutes of fame' during there lifetime.  Is this 15 minutes in front of the multitudes on an epic world stage, portraying an image, playing a part that is never meant to last or chasing the material dreams of society?  Which then just as quickly fades to black?

Or is it those moments in your life when you stand for what is right.  You make a decision to fight the seductive pull of self absorption and self love.  To turn from evil and the lure of what society tells us will make us loved, popular and rich.  To sacrifice and to love no matter what the cost.  The moments in between the events in our lives when we slow down and extend a helping hand, a smile or a hello. 

The true moments of eternal fame can happen more than once and so often occur when no one is watching, except perhaps a crowd of angels who applaud and cheer unseen in this world's realm!

From the DC Talk song ~ "What if I Stumble"

      Is this one for the people, is this one for the Lord?

      Do I simply serenade for things I must afford?

   

My version of this lyric as it applies to my life as an artist is as follows - 

       Is this one for the people, is this one for the Lord?     

      Am I simply painting for things I must obtain?

I believe we find our true significance not in what we do as  much as in how what we do impacts others.  Your 15 minutes of fame only matters if it in someway touches others and makes a difference in the lives of others. I so often struggle with the silence that often accompanies the moments following the posting of my art whether a drawing, painting or writings.  I must remind myself that whatever talent I possess is a gift I have been given not to make me famous, but to share it all with others.  

One of my biggest joys comes in those moments when my daughter wants to stand next to me at the drawing table and create her own 'masterpiece' cause that is what daddy does.  The impact of our daily actions we may never know while in this life, but will live on after us and the effects ripple forever into eternity.

If it is true and each person gets 15 minutes of fame, (I believe we get the opportunity not just once but over and over again) then it is our obligation and duty to not waste it.  Ever aware of the importance of each individual life and the impact we have on others especially those closest to us such as family and friends who we so often take for granted, as CS Lewis wrote: 

"There are no ordinary people.  You have never talked to a mere mortal.  But it is with immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors."

Are you loving deliberately, doing the next right thing and impacting others?

(Independence Day 2010, Copyright Maleko, 2010)