By: Suzanne Maiden, M.A., LPC
I was channel surfing this Sunday morning while drinking coffee and munching on Cracklin’ Oat Bran cereal. I stopped at a channel to watch Joel Osteen preach. I confess, he fascinates me. His ministry is gargantuan. I don’t know much more about him than what wikipedia reports. You know, he is a Texan and the son of a former Baptist preacher. He’s written a lot of books. I guess he’s rich.
He smiles throughout his sermon. He blinks a lot too – I couldn’t determine if he has dry eyes, or the bright lights bother him, or maybe he doesn’t believe what he’s saying, or maybe he is naturally introverted (Jungian definition, not layperson… see my previous post.) I’m not sure. But regardless of his excessive blinking of undetermined cause, I like Mr. Osteen.
I like to watch cheery Joel Osteen’s crooked-toothed-big smile as he preaches positive messages while excessively blinking. I like to believe that good triumphs over evil. I like to believe that each of us deserve’s God’s blessings. I’m not interested in listening to anyone proselytizing to me why the world is going-to-hell-in-a-hand-basket and why I’m going there too. If I want negative messages, I can just watch the news for a minute and I feel overwhelmingly depressed for hours. I think Mr. Osteen is brave to not change his style because critics slam him for not quoting more scripture. In 2006, Barbara Walters named him one of the year’s “Ten Most Fascinating People.”
I find him fascinating too. I understand why people gravitate towards him and his ministry. He is a welcome respite from everyday difficulties. Life is hard. It’s comforting reassurance to hear someone say that everything is going to be okay. Maybe I’m a simpleton because I like optimistic messages. Thank you, Mr. Osteen for being a deliverer of hope.
Now that I think about it, Brendon Burchard and Osteen really remind me of each other. Frank Kern quoted Robbins and Osteen in a video on his blog a few months ago.
So what are your thoughts on Tony Robbins? A little obvious, but you’ve covered two awesome, vibrant and alive characters already!
i think he’s a pirate – laughing his way to the bank.