Conversation Starter

from The Culture Translator Vol. 8, Issue 12 | April 1, 2022 by Axis.org

When Will Smith slapped Chris Rock in the Oscar’s most shocking moment in years, Smith’s mentor Denzel Washington was quick to usher Smith aside. “When you’re in your highest moment,” he told Smith, “that’s when the devil comes for you.” Smith appeared to cling to this statement, referencing it in his acceptance speech on stage just a few minutes later.

Much has been made about what Smith did and what might have been going through his mind when he did it. But Washington’s quote is interesting on its own. It does seem that moments of personal and professional acclaim carry a risk. Whether it’s the potential of pride to take over our actions, or the real threat of spiritual warfare, sometimes reaching a milestone creates a watershed moment where we lose our cool or make a mistake. The question is, how do we best prepare for that temptation?

Conversation starters:

What do you think about Denzel’s advice to Will Smith? Was it appropriate to the moment? Why might it have been a comforting word to offer?
Why do you think that moments of professional or personal success are often fraught with mistakes or embarrassment? Can you think of a time when you felt on top of the world, only to lose it moments later?
How can we best prepare our hearts so that we reflect God and His Glory in our triumphs?

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