Continuing the topic of self-image, I invite you to read this confession by Nichole Nordeman called “Coming Clean” in which Nichole talks about her feelings of guilt and duplicity after a magazine cover photo shoot. I highly recommend you take 10 or so minutes to read and fully digest this article. Not only does Nichole talk about her personal experience, but she interviews 13 other artists about how they view themselves and their industry.
If you are not familiar with Nichole Nordeman, check out her video called “Legacy”. It’s a powerful video about real people doing extraordinary things through their daily lives. Worth seeing at least once. Lyrics are posted below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0S0ep-QsNI
Legacy by Nichole Nordeman
I don’t mind if you’ve got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all who’s who and so-n-so’s that used to be the best
At such’n’such … it wouldn’t matter much
I won’t lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an ‘Atta boy’ or ‘Atta girl’
But in the end I’d like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world
I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy
I don’t have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthly list of all that I enjoy
It’s an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy
Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, “Well Done” good and faithful one…
2 comments
Laura at My Quotidian Mysteries
This was a terrific article! Thanks for the linnk. It’s funny – I haven’t actually thought that much about how CCM artists are tacitly dragged into the same kind of schtick that the world puts on other celebrities. This was a very refreshing window in that spiritual battle. I really appreciated hearing that there a struggle going on there. It’s easy to think that those artists have their lives together perfectly, but they’re “just like us!”
Thanks!
Kel1
I read part of this article in the bookstore the other day…but I didn’t get to read the whole thing till now, so thanks for posting it. It brought me to tears in parts. It’s a great reminder that ALL of us, no matter what our beliefs, place too much importance on the surface things and not enough emphasis on what truly matters.
That’s what I think is so great about this site…it doesn’t focus on outer beauty, but on who we are INSIDE, and on what we can accomplish while we’re on this little planet of ours.
I think we notice when too much emphasis is placed on appearances (ex.–HOOTERS :P ) but we don’t often see how WE as women and girls seem to do this to ourselves as well. I am maybe even guiltier than most of looking at my outer appearance with an overly critical eye. Who cares what I look like? I always hated it when I was growing up and all my mom could see in herself was that she was “fat.” I tried to tell her that I loved her because she was my MOM and she was a great person, but I don’t think she really “got it.”
Here’s hoping that I “get it” in my own life. ;)