Michael Jackson’s Spiritual Search and What We Can Learn About Ourselves From Him
by Beneath all of the media propaganda and incessant buzz about Michael Jackson’s quirky, bizarre, and strange behaviors and lifestyle, most of us sensed something more was going on with him. Indeed, we were attuned to his difficult and seemingly hopeless search to experience meaning in his life. We felt the depth of his suffering because in many ways it is our own.
Michael Jackson has held a special place in my heart because his songs defined my growing-up years. I hear “Thriller” or “Beat It” or “Billie Jean,” and I’m once again 10 years old, signing and dancing around my bedroom, feeling as though the world is overflowing with possibility.
Michael captivated the imaginations of people here in America and around the world. He ignited our desire to realize our potential and to experience our passion. He was magnetic, captivating, and charismatic, and we couldn’t get enough of him.
Michael Jackson: The Man Created in Our Image
The depth and extent of our fascination with Michael Jackson elevated him to the status of quasi-religious figure. We gave him the throne at the altar of the tabloid spectacle of our celebrity-obsessed culture, and then granted him the dubious honor as the ultimate draw of our reality-show-driven mentality. In the end, we treated him like we do all of our Gods—we loved him, then we mocked, derided, and crucified him, and then began to love him again after his death.
Michael Jackson Statue in The Netherlands
Retreat to Neverland
Michael lived up to our labels of him as an idol, a pop God—removing himself from the din and weariness of the world by retreating to a surreal creation Neverland Ranch, where he could indulge his Peter Pan fantasies of never growing up. He was living a childhood myth/fantasy of complete suspension in time, triumph of youthful energy over age and responsibility. He was immersed in the world of fairies, mermaids, Indians, and pirates. He invited ill children suffering from cancer and other life-threatening diseases to engage in his half-reality by having sleepovers. It seems that it was just a matter of time before allegations that Michael was a pedophile would surface.
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Post CommentKatie Marie
On July 24, 2009 at 9:28 am
Very insightful and well written. Well done my friend.
OhSugar
On July 24, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Very well presented. I like it.
David Crerand
On July 25, 2009 at 4:59 pm
I respected the talent of the man but, being a couple years older than you, was already capable of discerning the downright “off-ness” that was going on, you know what I mean, something was just “off”. You raise some very important points in your piece about how we elevate people’s status to pinnacles they can’t possibly live up to. Perhaps Michael’s “We are the World” etc. were his penances for the wrongs committed amidst his inability to understand the beauty of God’s gifts around him. You did succeed in your goal of making his death mean a little more to me than it had previously. Well written. David
Payge
On July 30, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Well written and I liked It a great deal.I haven’t listened to his music in 15 years but hopes he finds the peace that eluded him in life no matter what religion he was,
Pastor Curtis Barnett
On July 31, 2009 at 1:01 am
This was fantastic, inspiring, helpful just lovely.
Absolutely love your writing and way of thinking!
Jeremy James Noye
On August 10, 2009 at 10:46 am
Until reading this article I had been mostly indifferent to the whole MJ thing. I liked his music, but never felt any real connection to him. Looking at it in this light, I think MJ and I may have more in common than I thought.
WriteEditSeek
On August 27, 2009 at 3:11 am
@ Katie, OhSugar, and Curtis — Thank you very much for your nice comments. I appreciate them more than you know.
@ David — Yes, I agree, there was something that was just off about Michael. His life was quite tragic indeed.
@ Jeremy — Thanks for your comment. It\\\’s nice to hear that you found the information insightful.
Patti
On November 5, 2009 at 3:35 am
I believe in all the years I’ve studied Micheal Jackson and his love for humanity I truly believe he had an intimate relationship with Christ which makes him a born again Christian. And God’s word says if you believe Jesus died for your sins and accept him into your heart you will be with Him in paradise. And I truly believe thats where Micheal is right now for all eternity. He sure left us with some amazing entertainment did’nt he.