My dad sent me a nice 'ole care package this week, packed with old pictures, articles, and mail that somehow finds a way to be sent to my parents in Virginia. One of those articles was actually one that I first read a couple years ago. It's by Ben Stein. Some of you may remember Stein from his days as the host/contestant for a hilarious gameshow on Comedy Central called Win Ben Stein's Money. Personally, I'm most fond of his work as the magnificently monotoned science teacher in the way underappreciated tv show, The Wonder Years.

Ben Stein also apparently wrote a "gossip" column for E!Online that jibber-jabbered about the Who's who that dined at some upscale steakhouse. He decided to move on to other things, and wrote a very refreshing article. Do read it. It's entitled "How Can Someone Who Lives in Insane Luxury be a Star in Today's World? In it he writes of his frustration that "a man or woman who makes a huge wage for memorizing lines and reciting them in front of a camera" is considered a "shining star" by millions. He continues, "Real stars are not riding around in the backs of limousines or in Porsches or getting trained in yoga or Pilates and eating only raw fruit while they have Vietnamese girls do their nails." Rather, the real stars are the U.S. soldiers serving selflessly and practically anonymously for the lives of others, or firemen running into burning buildings to save those trying to run out. Paramedics, volunteers, teachers, and so on. He then writes:

We are puny, insignificant creatures. We are not responsible for the operation of the universe, and what happens to us is not terribly important. God is real, not a fiction; and when we turn over our lives to Him, He takes far better care of us than we could ever do for ourselves. In a word, we make ourselves sane when we fire ourselves as the directors of the movie of our lives and turn the power over to Him. I came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that matters. This is my highest and best use as a human.

Stein confesses that he realized years ago that his acting, computing, or stand-up comedy would never be all that good. However, noone could match how devoted of a father, husband, or son he made himself to be for his children, wife, and parents. He concludes by saying that as he comforted his parents in their deaths, he discovered that his life touched the lives of others who gave their all without regard for themselves--the "real stars".

Looking on his final comments, I'd have to agree with Ben Stein fully. For fun sometimes, people throw around silly questions like, "If you could have dinner with any star, who would it be?" Or "If you could meet anyone, who would it be?" Typically, the answers are the famous celebrities of the day. However, I think my answer would end up being something like, my parents, brother, old mentors, etc. People who I find myself separated from. People who have given their lives and their love to me. People who I'd give just about anything to just spend some more time with them.

I go back to that article from time to time when I need a pick-me-up, or just to set my bearings. Bearings that are hopefully set to give myself selflessly to all those my sphere of life touches.