Several weeks after releasing and garnering over 100,000,000 views for his magnum-opus KONY 2012, director and Invisible Children founder Jason Russell has apparently lost his mind. He has been transported to a medical facility by police after allegedly running naked in the streets of San Diego while publicly masturbating and vandalizing cars.
When I first heard the news of his ‘outburst’ I was oddly relieved. Something deep inside me resonated with someone who so strongly desires to change the world, and so desperately wants to be seen and heard on behalf of the cause they are championing.
But I resonate even more with ‘losing my shit’ when I feel criticized, invalidated or misunderstood.
Because despite Mr. Russells life mission and best efforts to tell the story of Kony’s army of kidnapped child soldiers in Uganda, his viral video drew mass criticism from individuals, organizations and governments alike for over-simplifying and misrepresenting the situation. And there were also those who questioned Mr. Russell’s integrity (and that of his organization Invisible Children), making veiled and direct accusations in regard to the motives behind producing and releasing KONY 2012.
I’m sure people will be talking about this for months to come. His friends have come out to stand up for him (which I think is good). Others have urged that we not gossip but instead give him a second chance (which I think is good too).
Maybe you think Jason Russell is full of shit. Maybe you think Invisible Children is a scam. But do we really want to summarily dismiss those attempting to do great good among us because of their shortcomings?
If our brokenness disqualifies us from offering our goodness to the world, then what hope do any of us have of contributing anything at all?
Jason Russell isn’t a tabloid celebrity that makes a living entertaining others or being celebrated for a skill or talent he possesses. He appears to be a social activist that has dedicated his life to something he believes in. Whether or not his motives, ideologies or practices are effective, accurate or even honest is irrelevant for me (in regard to the heart of what I am trying to say here).
What I do know is that Jason Russell is my new hero. He is a gift to all of us. He is a reminder that we aren’t designed to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, and he gives us hope that it’s okay to radically love people without having to do it perfectly. He also reminds us that we are all fully capable of crashing and burning under the unbearable weight of our own insecurity, fear and sense of inadequacy.
As much as I want role models and leaders who have it all together, know all the right answers and can lead me safely to the ‘promised land’, what I really think we need are more Jason Russells to remind us that we are all incredibly gifted, and incredibly broken- capable of incredible highs, and unfathomable lows.
I’m not saying we need to aspire to public meltdowns featuring (alleged) masturbation, intoxication or vandalism. And I’m not saying Invisible Children is a perfect cause with an infallible execution of their proclaimed mission. I’m simply taking a stand for the full spectrum of our humanity, and for the love of God- a love that fully embraces our failures and successes alike.
Because if this guy isn’t a man after God’s own heart, I don’t know who is.
Jason, I know this time is hard for you, your immediate and extended family, your friends, and those around you at Invisible Children. This too shall pass- but do not let it until you squeeze every ounce of life and learning from it. God be with you.
And God be with us all.
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12 Responses to “If this guy isn’t a man after God’s own heart, I don’t know who is. Jason Russell Meltdown.”
Wowie. I am reeling. This is so incredible. It is incredibly sad. What strikes me is not that he “cracked, ” but that the extremity of the display is so sobering. Having had my own depths of pain, this man needs some compassion and some love.
We are not the sum of our missions. We are and always will be souls in need of a Saviour and king. I don’t know why this happened, but I pray that he and his inner circle can forgive and also surround him with strength. He will be needing it.
His ministry is still valid and extraordinary. Thank you Jason for leading and for revealing this need. Put your pants on, get real and get back to what God designed you to do! Lead others in benevolence and mercy. Overcome this outburst of rage against the machine of life. Nothing can separate us from His love, but our actions can certainly challenge our integrity with others. Get the help you need. Get the love you need.
Rise above it. Own it. Move forward with no condemnation. There are children in Africa who need you. Move past self. You are extraordinary.
I’m somewhat confused by this post. You can make the case that we should have compassion for Jason Russell (and I think it is a strong case), but that is something separate from Invisible Children and his recently launched Kony 2012 campaign.
You wrote, “But do we really want to summarily dismiss those attempting to do great good among us because of their shortcomings?” The answer is yes, and I don’t think you would make such an unreasonable proposition regarding anyone other than the leader of a hip, Christian, feel-good movement. Would you “summarily dismiss” a pediatric surgeon who got high before work and ended up killing lots of children? How about a careless pilot who crashed a plane and killed everyone on board? In this case we have a dishonest movie director that promotes a reckless military invasion.
Maybe Russell does want to do great good. I have no idea what his intentions or motives are, and that’s not particularly important to the story. It remains the case the Invisible Children is a glib and irresponsible organization that lobbies for policies that endanger the lives of thousands of others, and Jason Russell is at the helm. Pointing out that human beings are broken and in need of compassion does not release us from our moral duty to evaluate the decisions we make and avoid inflicting harm on others.
Michael,
Steve Haas is the VP of World Vision. Here’s his helpful take:
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/saltshaker/2012/03/my-experience-with-joseph-kony-how-to-think-about-the-youtube-sensation/
Yes! My thoughts exactly.
If we genuinely care about “making a difference,” we owe it to the people we wish to help to listen to their needs. If we don’t, then who is the altruism really for? It should not be about ourselves. So many people function on this assumption that doing anything is better than doing nothing, and this is simply not true. Do we really want to help? Honestly? Yes? Great. Then let’s figure out how to do it better than we have in the past, or at the very least do no harm.
I’m glad I had a chance to read your view. Thank you for sharing your feelings on this situation. I especially agree with this point you made:
“He is a reminder that we aren’t designed to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, and he gives us hope that it’s okay to radically love people without having to do it perfectly.”
That is what I feel is at the heart of this whole story and it is what I choose to take away from it all. Sending continued prayers for Jason, his family and his cause.
MICHAEL, WHAT ARE T YOU DOING? FOR CHRIST OR FOR YOURSELF?
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I could not disagree with you more. I was almost sickened watching that video. Rarely have I witnessed such a self-absorbed, self-obsessed individual as Jason Russell (isn’t vanity one of the seven deadly sins?). The deceitful manner in which he communicates through the video, the deceitfulness of the accounting practices at Invisible Children, his promotion of one warlord over another, are inexcusable. I could post 20 critical responses to the Kony 2012 campaign, but here is one that I just read today, so we can start with this . . .
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/03/the-white-savior-industrial-complex/254843/
Here’s what wiser men are teaching me: Compassionate activism, even when apparently rooted in altruistic love, will get you to the end of yourself. Externalizing the internal struggle always leads to self-destruction, which then (hopefully) leads to internalizing the internal struggle. All struggle is only internal, and the only problem, ever, is: lack of conscious connection with God.
The only legitimately helpful thing anybody can do for anybody else is to absorb, internalize, and relax into Jesus’ affection.
Once you do that, don’t do jack shit.