Influencers vs. Inspirers

Influencer. It's a fairly recent coinage. Online references paint the picture of someone who wields the power to affect purchasing decisions because of their authority, knowledge, position, or simply because they've You-tubed their way into the hearts of a large number of followers. Those who exploit their public popularity in order to steer public opinion and shape political thought also figure in.

Back in the 20th century, there were pop stars whose clothing and hairstyles teenagers imitated, and sports heroes who hawked everything from beer and cigarettes to coffee makers and indoor grills. Even romanticized politicians and fervent activists who lit fires within restless young adults searching for meaning. But it's different today, when everyone with a point of view has a potential platform, and those with a bit of name-recognition can reach the eyes and ears of a massive audience with a few keystrokes.

This brave new world gets really scary when you look at the top 50 influencers: sports-stars of questionable character; celebrities best known for their flaunting of traditional standards; notorious rappers who deride common decency and spew profanities; all those crazy Kardashians. People who have spent very little, if any, of their lives living in the real world are telling us what to eat, drink, drive, wear, and value. That 2+2 no longer equals four. And every election season, who to vote for. Scary indeed.

One way to tip the scales is to shift our focus to inspirers. People who lift, encourage, and motivate by the way they handle hardship, commit to their families, love the unlovable, honor their Creator, use their talents well, and give their hearts to the worthy causes of justice and charity. The way live their lives—quietly, unobtrusively, humbly.

I think of a younger cousin, now raising her special needs son alone following the unexpected death of her husband. Or the wheelchair-bound gentleman who has signed on with a personal trainer at my local Y, determined to regain mobility and independence.

At this moment, a dear friend is facing a life-changing diagnosis—the dark unknown that looms before many of us at some point in our lives. She is doing this with an unwavering faith in God and a graciousness that words can't capture. "I need a hug," she said to me recently, in response to my sending her a card of encouragement. In truth, I was the one who needed the hug, and her generous heart had room to cater to my anxiety, to offer me some of her peace.

You won't see my friend anywhere on the internet. But I am enriched by her presence, enlightened and strengthened by her example, awed by her grace.

The razzle-dazzle types scream opinions at us from every electronic portal, a flash of neon which soon sputters into a puff of smoke. But true inspirers cast a warm, steady glow. May the ripple effects of their selfless examples be the change we need in this troubled world.