U2’s Bono kneels humbly in the spotlight

This article ran in Saturday’s WS Journal. While I’m sure that some celebrities use social causes to promote their favorite cause — their own careers — Bono’s heart consistently seems to be in the right place. Plus, I’ve never observed him trying to portray himself as being more than simply human.

By Tony Campolo in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette:

Celebrity and humility make an unusual mix, but not as unusual as you might think. Bruce Springsteen made the connection during his U2 induction speech at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March.

Springsteen acknowledged that Bono possesses "one of the most endearing naked messianic complexes in rock ’n’ roll," but then he completed the picture. "His voice is shot through with self-doubt," said Springsteen. "The constant questioning in Bono’s voice is where the band stakes its claim to its humanity and declares its commonality with us: ‘ Here we are, Lord, this mess, in your image. ’"

Perhaps Bono is helping us clarify some of our misunderstandings about humility and pride as suggested by Irish-born writer C. S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity. "If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step," wrote Lewis. "The first step is to realize that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed."