The death of Junior Seau will cause some debate on concussions again. Good.

But beyond that I’ve been reflecting on athletes and entertainers and our culture of idols.

I don’t want to take away from personal responsibility. Athletes and entertainers need to learn how to live life beyond the big stage. So many do it well.

Yet, we have a throwaway culture that cheers loudly for the young and talented, then tosses them aside when the next hot thing comes along. In our hunger to see the next hot talent, we drive people to live for that particular moment without regard to what is next.

Again, there are certainly great entertainers who have lived a long career either as an entertainer or in some other field. There are athletes who have gone on to other careers once they retire. But many just are lost. They’ve been conditioned for the spotlight and once that light is off and the adoration is gone, they are lost. And our culture has some blame to share in that loss.

Many years ago I had the incredible fortune of sitting in the same waiting room as a former major league pitcher and a current (at that time) NFL player. I introduced myself to the pitcher because he had overcome some incredible adversity earlier in his career and I wanted to thank him for his inspiring story. The NFL player then came over and introduced himself to the pitcher. Both men then talked about lives outside their sports. They were searching for their identities. It was an amazing conversation to listen to.

We are a crazed culture living for the moment. We have no problem using up athletes at the collegiate level in hopes of cheering them on in a professional arena. But if they don’t make it to the pro level, we just toss them aside and wait for the next “one and done” player (in NCAA basketball) or the next great linebacker that we can turn into a human missile so he can maim some quarterback and we can all cheer.

We have no problem churning through hundreds of auditions for the next “idol” or “voice,” not caring if we hear of them five years from now. We just love that talent NOW. And it’s the talent we love. Not the person.

And don’t even get me started on ministers and ministry! 😉

We are not doing very well in our culture (or in our churches) in the area of building legacy and long-term growth and development. We are living in the NOW… and it may just be killing us. For Junior Seau, it’s certainly has.