On Red Carpets and Spotlights...

The wisdom of the red carpet is all about knowing that social events aren’t just social sometimes. I remember dressing up and heading out for an event. It was one of those intellectual organizations having a social event. I didn’t care about the intellectual part, I cared about the social. Thus I was one happy dressed up lady in her red heels and red lips out for a night of food and music.

I knew what the event was about… vaguely. I was basically going for the social. And so it was that we hit the red carpet… and the cameras came for me, my red lipstick must have made my teeth appear whiter in the dark night and attracted the cameras… they wanted an interview, for me to say something about the event and what I thought about the theme. That’s when my heartbeat produced a new soundtrack. I had to whisper to my companion to save me, give a hint, say something, whats the theme again? help me!… I’m not sure how I was saved, I probably did the interview and blabbed all through, I can’t seem to remember.

I watched some youtube clips on real red carpet ambushes, where people were asked to give meanings of words… I mean, people are dressed up to have a good time, brains are left at home, don’t do that to them on the red carpet, it isn’t fair.

Lesson learnt? Always come prepared… wherever you go, be prepared, have your brain well polished and tucked cozily in your head. Study about the event, you never know whom you’ll be sat next to… or who you’ll have to strike a conversation with, or if the camera will come for you like it’s metal and you’re magnet, with no hiding place for you, and your ignorance will be exposed to the world.

Peter says, always be ready “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” 1 Peter 3:15

We dress up in Gods salvation, looking fabulous on the red carpet of life, in the spotlight of the worlds view, dressed in splendor… but when they walk up to us, are we clueless? what do we say? I never really know what to say. Like I was stuck on the red carpet, I get stuck when it comes to answering certain questions of my salvation and I come off a fool. Like why do I take communion daily and why do I pay my tithes and why do I hand out offerings and why do I sow seeds? My heart knows all the right reasons why (it’s not because some pastor has found a way to manipulate me to give)… But when it comes to arguing with people who ambush me with questions, my head, my voice betrays the words my heart pleads to spill out. You just don’t know when the cameras will come looking. We ought to come prepared always.

I received a mail from someone in one of the Islamic nations asking me about Jesus… that was a red carpet moment for me, I was glad it wasn’t live… but I struggled in trying to express what my heart knew. Its like trying o describe the feeling when that first spoon of ice cream melts in your mouth to a person who is clueless about what ice cream is…

There are loads of people dressed up in the fancy outfit of Christianity and mouthing off “I’m Christian” but they know nothing about this Christianity that they show off. Nothing!!!!

This scripture was just dropped in my heart “But when you are arrested and stand trial, don't worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” Mark 13:11 Maybe I get clueless because I rely on myself and my intellect when I should be completely dependent on the Holy Spirit to give me the words and boldness to express what is in my heart. Maybe our self effort is we trip on and fall face flat as we walk the red carpet of life.

May we remember to draw from the help of the Holy Spirit that we have been given when we are asked about this hope that we have in Christ.