On a recent flight back from Haiti, two talkative men sat down next to me in my exit row seats. They were followed by an eager male flight attendant who immediately told the guy seated next to me that he recognized him. He turned out to be Misha Collins, the star of the TV show Supernatural (he played the angel Castiel) as well as numerous other appearances on multiple shows including 24 and ER.The other guy currently starred on some show on the Discovery Channel.
Misha Collins
I immediately apologized for not recognizing either of them, as they had a small entourage traveling with them and I could tell they were “somebodies.” They were very gracious about it. (The guys had spent a week in Haiti with some friends and fans working in an orphanage. Good for them!)
But the steward made up for my lack of excitement. He was literally giddy over meeting the two actors and proceeded to dote on them for the entire flight. He basically turned our coach, three-seat exit row into a first class row. Well, at least two of the seats became first class–Misha’s and the other guy’s. The steward brought them warms cookies, free drinks, extra meals from first class, even the little warm towels so they could wipe their hands. And with every trip back to our row, with every set of goodies he brought to them, he had to hand them over me to his two newest friends. It was like I didn’t even exist. Not once in the three-hour flight did the steward even acknowledge me. After a while, it got to be kind of funny.
Now please understand, I don’t fault the steward for giving them special treatment and I don’t fault the two movie stars for excepting it; and again, they were gracious the entire time. That flight attendant is probably used to seeing celebrities on his flights and giving them special treatment. In fact, he’s probably encouraged to. No big deal. I certainly wasn’t offended.
But the dichotomy between how I was treated and their treatment got me thinking about Christians and the Church and how we’re often just as guilty of giving “important people” special treatment:
- We cater to people who can help us get ahead
- We clamor to be seen in the right circles and known by the right people
- We name bricks or buildings after folks who can give enough money to be noticed
- We grant some pastors, authors, and Christian musicians celebrity status, as if they’re somehow better and more important that the rest of us
- And we do so, quite often, while ignoring the very folks Jesus called us to serve
And so, I’d like to offer a few statements to all of us who follow Jesus by way of reminder that there are no classes, levels or special status for anyone in the faith:
- There is only one celebrity in Christianity, and he died on a cross
- There are no “important” Christians, only slaves to Jesus
- There is no such thing as a powerful church member, only servants
- Rich people and well-known people shouldn’t be treated any differently by Christians than the homeless, the orphans and the poor
- Jesus elevated the “least of these” and warned to rich to learn how to grieve, as their respective places would ultimately be switched.
My experience on the flight reminded me that as a Christian and as a leader I can’t cater to the cool or serve the celebrities any more that I pursue the poor. To do so violates the very heart of the Gospel we proclaim.
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2:1-4
So Very true in todays world. What is sad is our children are buying off on it. and I catch myself with it too! I so needed to be reminded of this, and keep my eyes upon my lord Jesus Christ. Thank you Robin
The other guy’s name was Colin Ferguson and the charity is called Random Acts. They raised over $200,000 for the orphanage and community center in Haiti!
That’s right! Colin was very nice. Thanks for clarifying.
Colin Ferguson @colinferg was on a really great show on the SyFy Channel called Eureka, but they had their series finale this past Monday after 5 amazing seasons
Great actor and great guy. Wish I could have been in your seat, but I might have just reached out and snuck one of the cookies LOL
Thanks for the Christian analogy! Very true!
Just so you know, Misha Collins is the one who posted the above comment with Colin’s name and the name of the charity. He also linked it on his twitter, so I’m sure you are overloaded with comment moderation at this point. I thought you might want to know.
It was actually Misha’s charity, he founded it
Good stuff. Thanks for sharing this. I weary of seeing this among believers, then God reminds me of the plank in my own eye!
Perhaps the one serving them wasn’t Christian. Please, do not always assume that everyone shares the same religion as you do.
This is funny, because there is a nice, detailed and pretty serious article on the Internet on some Christian website about Mr. Collins being the Anti-Christ.
Get ready to be spammed with negativity and hate because the actor himself tweeted this, Misha, and he brought this attention to his followers. and his followers hate anybody saying anything negative about him, even though I agree with what you wrote. celebrities are treated differently then regular people, but when it’s two actors and a normal person sitting in the same setting and the stewardess is basically ignored you because you aren’t famous, it’s not right. I agree with what you wrote and you don’t deserve to get spammed with hate because God forbid you are allowed your own opinion, if the actor can’t handle reading negativity about himself, you is he bringing attention to himself with this? Is his intention in bringing it to the front and center of his fans and followers, to shut you down and hate on you?
I actually found this blog quite interesting, even if I myself have issues with religion. But then I started reading through the comments and found yours…
I am an admitted fan of Misha, and I follow him on twitter. By putting this up, he has drawn attention to the post. If you had read any of his previous tweets, you would be aware that he puts most of them up in joking fun. That is clearly the tone he took when linking this blog post. It is, instead, those who follow him that can be either positive or negative in their reviews. We admire him and respect him – that does not mean we perceive him as a jealous god who must be defended at all costs.
I would respectfully ask you to leave your own negativity and apparent loathing of celebrity figures out of it. You are not confirming the blogger’s message, you are displaying a personal hate towards someone you don’t even know.
Please be more conscious of how your words affect others. Reading your comment went so far as to bring a sick feeling to my stomach. From what I know of Christianity, the message of Jesus is love. Why, then, have you only shared animosity?
Listen, I read this blog as a person who doesn’t believe in Jesus, but I left the religions preaching out of what the post was really about and how there is an unbalance in the way people get treated. I agreed with it. I didn’t agree with Misha’s approach in bringing attention to something that he shouldn’t have bothered with. Yes, he tweeted it in a mocking gesture, but his intent was to draw attention to it because some Misha fans hate anything negative being said of him and they will go on the attack, that’s probably why you had a sick feeling in your stomach reading my post, because it was slightly negative towards Misha therefor you wouldn’t like to read about it. Tough really. This blog was one person’s experience towards a situation where they saw first hand how celebrities get treated better then an ordinary person, but they told the story with adding a bit of preaching to it. If you were sick to the stomach with my post, then you should feel the same way towards many other comments that have been posted here where many of them attacked Will, I mean how sad is that? That should make you sick to the stomach, not my post where it’s the truth and Misha drew attention to this so his fans could defend him. That was his intent after all.
This is going to be my last response because I consider on-going comment wars pointless. So if you respond by reiterating what you have already said, know I am no longer responding or reading.
While I admit your attack on Misha bothered me, it is the tone of your words that makes me sick. I *was* troubled by the other comments that were negative toward the man writing the blog, however I responded to yours.
My words regarding Misha do touch on the fact that he is a celebrity only in that I would know next to nothing about him otherwise. It is not because of his societal place that I enjoy reading his tweets, it is because he has a sharp, joking tongue and I am aware of the effort he puts in to helping others.
Reread Misha’s original tweet. Read the ones proceeding it. He wasn’t expecting his followers to defend him. He was teasing, suggesting this should be added to the list he keeps of reasons he must be the Anti-Christ, something suggested by an earlier article written by a completely different person. When this title was thrown at him, he eagerly and laughingly embraced it. He was not offended, he was amused. The only thing he takes seriously on his twitter account is his charity, Random Acts, and even then he’ll do silly things to draw attention.
I read the comments on blogs and news stories looking for more regarding the story. More often than not, what I find is a spew of hatred, turning the story into a personal vendetta. I have no idea what you or anyone else who makes such comments is like in general life, but there are studies which have proven people are far more likely to be combative and overly aggressive on the internet than they would ever consider being face-to-face.
That is what your original comment felt like, and that is why I responded to it. That is also why I am taking myself out of this back-and-forth.
I apologize if I offended you, but I stand by my original words that Misha would not have linked this to convince his twitter followers to mock the blog’s writer.
And I stand by my comment. I am not offended because I am not the one who drew attention to such a blog just because it talks about me, nor am I the person who wrote this blog who now has people attacking him. I only found this blog through Misha’s twitter and I was the first comment on here saying for the blogger to get ready to get attacked by Misha fans who will go on the attack, and I was right. My words towards Misha is the truth, many celebrtires get stuff written on them, it’s only if that celeb goes looking for this kind of stuff or spends his time reading about what other people say about him, negative or positive. Misha knows his fans, he knows that they will go on the attack, he had first hand experience in seeing what his fans are capable of. He tweeted in a joking manner and LINKED this blog for fans to not only read but to respond to it on the site. You aren’t going to convince me otherwise that he didn’t tweet about it to have his fans go on the attack, history says otherwise in him doing just that. Misha is a great guy with a good heart, but he has his negative sides to him and if you opened your eyes you would see that negative side that he has.
The cult of celebrity. It only sets back our society.
“Slaves to Jesus” doesn’t strike you as at all antithetical to his teachings?
I thought this too.
Some translations use the word “bondservant” rather than “slave.” It is more accurate because a person becomes a bondservant by choice not by force.
I came here because Misha tweeted your link, but as a professional children’s minister your thoughts hit me right in the gut. You are SO correct in your observations about our current church culture. We get so excited and proud when our fave celebrities do charity work, but we pat ourselves on the back for doing just a handful of service acts ourselves. There’s a lot of room for us to grow towards Christlikeness on this one! He is indeed more than a celebrity!
@deansfangirl – I came here from Misha’s tweet as well. Nice to meet a fellow believer and SPN family member!
Okay, I do not see how Misha Collins and Colin Ferguson being on a flight and getting special treatment has anything to do with Christianity. It seems to me that you were jealous of the special treatment the two celebrities were getting. Forgive me if I am wrong but, it is a sin to have jealousy in your heart for another person. It is not their fault for being a celebrity. It is their profession. If you was no big deal to you, then you would not have wrote about it. I think you need to examine why you felt the need to write about it. You need to remove the board out of your own eye. To take the speck out of your brothers eye.
I couldn’t agree less with this argument… the original post merely points out that our current culture values celebrities and their comfort over any other person’s. This post did not criticize or put the celebrities at fault in the slightest and the author mentioned twice that the celebrities were more than gracious. Don’t be so quick to jump to conclusions. This article is just a religious commentary on how our society has been conditioned to cater to celebrities above all others – something that definitely is not condoned in Christian faith, but has become the norm.
Thank you for writing this. It’s a beautiful, thoughtful message.
I went to Haiti with Misha in 2011. I am also a follower of Christ. It IS unfortunate that the steward fawned over them so much, but I can assure you that Mr. Collins’ personality is such that he was probably highly embarrassed! And although he isn’t a professed believer, his actions regarding the needy follow the tenants of Christ; I know that I have become a better Christian because of him.
One thing I love most about Random Acts is it’s 100% non-denominational and doesn’t guilt-trip or mind-bork you into loving Jesus instead of just facing your fear of death. It’s about doing good because you can, not because you’re afraid of Hell. Something to keep in mind.
The Bible does not teach that we do good to avoid Hell. Heaven is a gift from God. We do good out of a love for others based on God’s love for us and them.
The only reason I saw this is because Misha Collins tweeted it, so he just got you about 500,000 more views. That could deserve a couple of free cookies from first class.
I agree with everything you’ve said! I came onto your website because of Misha’s twitter post, I’m sure he agrees too
You must be without sin to be casting such stones.
This is not, sorry to say, the way to preach about humility. This reads as if you’re judging, and we all know what happens when you judge. also, the supernatural family is a big deal so please be a little more classy because you might have turned a whole fandom against Christianity. and really, don’t we, as the body of Christ, have enough to deal with as is? and maybe it wont be the whole fandom, maybe you just turned that one Stewart away from Christ or just one person who was surfing the internet and found this. I mean, i’m offended by it, and I love Jesus so~
doubt also I’m sure if you would have asked misha for a cookie, he would have shared.
Will wasn’t the one who was judging. the steward was. will was observing, and using his observations to enhance his ministry.
No, the flight attendant was indulging in a bit of over emotional fangirling/boying. Which is more or less harmless. And Will took that story and potentially tuned a good lot of people against Christ with it. even though his intentions were good. I mean, how many people who are posting comments on here could have, at one point, received Christ, but now will close their ears to any such talks because of this post? This is my concern.
LOL what? Josie that is an embarrassing post. How can this blogger turn the people who responding to this post turn them against Christ? The majority of these people who responded to this post aren’t very religious to begin with. My concern is that the blogger proved his point with his post. It’s his blog, he can do what he wants, if he wants to make a statement by preaching, then it’s his right. Nobody told you to read it, the blogger didn’t tell you to read it. It was his blog and he wrote it for his followers to read it because his followers believe what he believes. The majority who read it, read only because Misha brought attention to it. Like I said in my first post, it was not right for Misha to draw attnetion to something like this because he knows his fans will go on the attack, and why do you think it’s right for Misha to do such a thing? He can’t handle a bit of negativity? And this post was not even negative, he just brought attention to how celebrities, even the bad kind, get special treatment. And it’s true regardless of how much people love Misha. Just because Misha does charity work, which he deserves the praise he gets for it, there are people who don’t have the same status as him who do even bigger charity work, and I bet you they don’t get the same treatment as Misha. Never forget there are people who do more great things in life but don’t get the same respect and treatment as poeple like Misha. People seem to forget that, which is sad, Misha is a star, so his fans will go on the attack very quickly without really thinking of the other side, the other story.
“LOL what?”
Classy.
“Josie that is an embarrassing post.”
I’m sorry that you’re embarrassed, I however remain unashamed. So I guess that’s just your cross.
“How can this blogger turn the people who responding to this post turn them against Christ?”
I already gave examples in my precious post on how this could happen. But let me give you another.
Lets say the flight attendant, being a fan of misha, finds his tweet and reads this blog and is horrified that he was talked about and because of it –no matter how well the intentions or how true the post, and it is absolutely true. Will is very right; people should be treated like people. The end—decides that all Christians suck and is therefore turned against Christ.
I’ve seen this happen a lot. And sad to say I have actually been the cause of it a time or two, maybe three who knows what sort of ill effect my good intentioned yet clumsy delivered words might have had.
“The majority of these people who responded to this post aren’t very religious to begin with.”
So we should just forget about them and how they might feel? I think you should re-read Wills post again.
“My concern is that the blogger proved his point with his post.”
How is that even a concern? How come you keep saying that word? I do not think it means what you think it means. I would HOPE his point comes across because it is a very good point and something to think on always, but my CONCERN is that it doesn’t, because it gets mixed up in the negative that, I’m sure Will did not intent, but here we are anyways. Because reality is nothing, perception is everything. People act on what they perceive reality to be. Like the fangirls will perceive this post to be something negative and therefore react based on that and Wills message will be not only lost on those who are here to defend misha, but also cause them to think twice about ever listening to any Christian message ever again.
It only takes one tiny pebble to change a river forever.
“It’s his blog, he can do what he wants, if he wants to make a statement by preaching, then it’s his right.”
I never said he couldn’t? I was asking over the ramifications of it as a member of the church. It is his blog and he may write as he pleases, but just because you can do whatever you want, doesn’t mean you get to do what ever you want.
Alternatively, if the flight attendant wanted to shower misha and colin with cookies isn’t that also, by your very standards, his right?
“Nobody told you to read it, the blogger didn’t tell you to read it.”
I never told you to read my post. Hows that medicine tasting, rather bitter?
“It was his blog and he wrote it for his followers to read it because his followers believe what he believes.”
Yes and it would have been kept to just his followers if he didn’t name drop, which my original post was warning against. Things becoming a little clearer now?
“The majority who read it, read only because Misha brought attention to it. Like I said in my first post, it was not right for Misha to draw attnetion to something like this because he knows his fans will go on the attack, and why do you think it’s right for Misha to do such a thing?”
Because he was named in it? Though I can’t pretend to know his mind in tweeting this, and neither really should you, but I guess you will anyways.
“He can’t handle a bit of negativity?”
And there it is.
“And this post was not even negative, he just brought attention to how celebrities, even the bad kind, get special treatment.”
Look, either this post is negative and misha can’t handle it, or its not. Make up your mind. I personally don’t see this post as negative, but I can see how the fandom might. And I don’t think Will was bashing misha at all, but once again, the fan girls they will rally.
“And it’s true regardless of how much people love Misha.”
Never said it wasn’t true.
“Just because Misha does charity work, which he deserves the praise he gets for it, there are people who don’t have the same status as him who do even bigger charity work, and I bet you they don’t get the same treatment as Misha.”
I never, not once, argued against the validity of Wills message. I actually, if you paid any attention, agreed with what he was saying, I just had a few questions on HOW he was saying it. Please sense the pattern here.
“Never forget there are people who do more great things in life but don’t get the same respect and treatment as poeple like Misha. People seem to forget that.”
Let me say again, I was not saying Will was wrong.
“which is sad, Misha is a star, so his fans will go on the attack very quickly without really thinking of the other side, the other story.”
Really, because this was my very point. That Will didn’t know what can of worms this post has opened. Did you even read my post or did you just see a misha fan and decide to go nuts without listening to the full story. Oh, I guess that sword cuts both ways. So please stop preaching to me, I know what Will was saying and I agree with it. My point was that others might not because they’re too busy trying to defend Misha and Colin.
I believe his point would have been better served if he didn’t name names. That is it. that is all. Cue happy ending music.
Josie, why are you being so nasty? The blog post is entirely innocuous, and you’re trying to tell the preacher that he could have turned an entire fandom againt Christ? That doesn’t strike you as a bit over the top? How is your comment any less judgemental than the post itself? If everyone could just dial back for a minute, we can see this for what it really is: a cute anecdote that reminds us of our calling to treat everyone with the care and courtesy we would treat Jesus.
Why is it so hard to believe that people can have thoughts and opinions that might conflict with other thoughts and options without it all being “nasty”? I’ve already explain my concerns and every time someone replies to my comment they just keep proving my point.
you say lets all dial back a second right?
and what was my point? basically that people wont because they’ll be too sdkjdkf over mishas name dropped in this antidote to dial anything back, and the cute story will be lost and some might run around all frowny ‘stupid uppity Christians.’
it. happens.
Yes I told Will that dropping names was a mistake, and yes I did it in quippy tones and sassy words. I guess I could have kept my peace, but then again, so could everyone. But you’re right, I’m mean because I’ve called people nasty or embarrassing.
Ohwait.
For the record, I’m done responding to follow up comments unless they hold some merit other than to tell me what Wills message was. Because I got it. I agree with it. I just done agree with how it was delivered. Site the difference.
Josie, your ‘quippy tones’ and ‘sassy words’ are what made your post so nasty, not the fact that you had a differing opinion. The blogger was able to make his point without that sort of tone, and he’s done a good job of demostrating the courtesy and graciousness with which Christians are called to treat others.
I would urge you to take a week and come back to read what you have written, and really think about whether you comments or the original post are better examples of Christ-like behavior.
But instead of waiting for manna from heaven, you could simply ask the cookies? “Ask and you shall receive”
I agree totally! If I was too see an Angel I would give him unlimited cookies as well.
This is a very important message, and one that I’ve seen disregarded to often, especially in the campus ministry where my niece has been studying. I hope I can forward this along to her and remind myself that Christ’s word does not need celebrity spokesmen, because the message itself is powerful on its own.
It’s good to remember, though, that the rich and famous need God’s love, too. Ever since Misha Collins acheived his semi-celebrity status, he’s seemed unsure of how to handle the newfound fame, and more desperate for the approval of others than even most actors. This is a man who could use the love of Christ as much as anyone.
Both of these “cool” people were returning from Haiti, where they were not posing for photo ops
and signing checks. They were living with the people they were helping, putting up walls and
pouring cement in conditions you have never witnessed. God never said “cool=bad”
If you ever were acting on Christ’s teachings instead of piously mouthing how holy you are,
Jesus might appear to you in the form of a flight attendant and give you a cookie, too.
You could have brought your own cookies to avoid this whole situation.
Not sure how i ended up here but it made an interesting read and an interesting observation.
People see things differently, react in different ways, think differently and that’s the way its suppose to be.
I would actually BAKE warm cookies for Misha Collins and not because of Supernatural( although I am a fan) but because of the way he contributes to our world and its well being, its restoration and potential.
His ‘Random Acts’ organisation(everyone included within it) and their achievements in the areas of serving humanity are pretty inspiring, at times overwhelming.
Like i said, I dont really know how i ended up here today but those are my thought, make of them what you will.
Gratitude xx
At my mother’s church’s Easter service one year, I saw one of the homeless people who come to the weekly soup kitchen held at the church come in quietly and sit down on the floor by the front row, out of the way. He was not being disruptive, and was not noticeably inebriated. If I hadn’t seen the door open and close, I wouldn’t have noticed his entry.
One of the ushers went up to him after a few minutes and took him by the elbow to stand up. I thought “Oh good, he’s showing the man to a seat to be a part of the congregation.”
The usher took him to the door where he was joined by a second usher. The only sound I heard was the man saying, “please let me stay” before the door closed. He was escorted out of the service and did not return, though the ushers did, and stood at the chapel doors like guards.
I don’t go to my mother’s church anymore.
I hope you found a better church that understand more clearly what we are called to do as Christians.
I have a friend who attended a church with her family and upon their first service the church specifically asked her family to pay them several hundred dollars for renovations to the church.
Stories like these are sad, when people are genuinely interested in what God has to say and what He has done for them, but we as The Body push those people away so easily.
May God save us from those who act on their own wants and will while claiming to be of His Kingdom.
When a celebrity works for a worthy cause as these two gents did, money flows in like a gully washer in a flash flood. Yet, when some ordinary Joe tries to raise enough to travel to China on a short term mission trip to an orphanage in China for special needs children just to give these unloved children some of God’s Love, money trickles in like a dripping faucet, and this from so called church people.
I know one such person who recently tried to raise just $2500 for this very orphanage and in 4 months less than $550 was donated. Needless to say, that person was unable to make the trip. That person was heart broken and feared that she/he had missed God big time.
We not only elevate certain persons to celebrity status, but we also elevate their “causes” to celebrity status because a celebrity is promoting it, while countless other missions go hungry.
Although large donations are always welcome by mission organizations, all it really takes is for everyone to give a little. “God loves an hilarious giver.” Big donors love to be noticed. The person or couple that can only give a few cents a week or a month, because it is all they have, will be laughed at by the crowds; God, however will call them “faithful with little” and reward them with much.
You have it backwards. A celebrity is known by hundreds of thousands of people, so when they support a cause, there is a large pool who sees that and joins in the support. An Ordinary Joe doesn’t have the same exposure, that’s all.
Misha’s organization is to provide families with homes, clean drinking water, food, things that are made available to most people everyday. Rather than spend money to spread the word of God, it could be better spent feeding homeless. That’s why he gets more support for his cause. I don’t want to donate money to a cause where those children may already have their own views of religion just to have another shoved down their throats, when I could spend it to provide them medical care, or ways to get them adopted.
Well said and my thoughts exactly. I was very put-off by the previous commenter’s words that someone needs to travel across the world to preach the words of a religion and salvation of an unfamiliar god to people who have their own beliefs already, all in the name of that one Christian being able to “find God”. I’m sure if they bothered to try, they could “find God” just down the street from them, across town, in another neighborhood and help homeless children there. They could help by donating time and money in their own community rather than try to get a trip to China just to “find God” FOR THEMSELVES. I don’t agree with these sorts of trips; I’d rather give money to non-religiously affiliated groups going to give help to those who need it simply because they NEED help. No strings attached. They don’t have to listen to someone preaching about Jesus or consider conversion just to get meals or clothes or a bed or education.
I do have a question for all you believer. Do you think the world will end at the end of this year? If so why did God say{ after the flood that the rainbow was there to keep His Promise from not ending the world}.
I think the verse was that God promised to never again destroy the world by Flooding specifically. Ah, I feel so bad that I don’t know for sure. :/ But that’s what I seem to recall
His promise was to not destroy the earth by flood again. because floods are so 200bc. And the whole 2012 thing is a myna theory and they’re not even saying that we’re all going to float out into orbit either. Its just when their calender ends with a showing of the verse’s different aliment, which slowly causes all kinda of earthy things to come unraveled. which could very well end up aligning with the Christian apocalypses. But either way the worlds ending bloody so I suggest we imbibe copious amounts of alcohol. Just wait for the inevitable blast wave.
None of these are direct quotes btw, more like cliff notes.
Spent a week in haiti with some friends and fans working in an orphanage? “GOOD FOR HIM.”Don’t disregard his work because you obviously don’t know half of the things that he’s accomplished. Mr. Let me blog about how I was ignored because I want want attention too. Why don’t you open up a non- profitable organization and help Thousands of people? Maybe then you would get some attention. Misha Collins earned those little tiny cookies, warm towels, and meals. Don’t hate, appreciate this mans devotion and detication to changing the world.
Am I the only one under the impression this is about your envy issues and not about equal treatment for everyone?
HAHAHA! omg you guys can’t be serious?? They are famous good-guys that got special treatment and now they’re suddenly the anti-christ? I cannot believe how dumb that is. Misha Collins is an Angel, stop dissing him for fuck’s sake! Maybe you should’ve said something to that flight attendant instead of just sitting there, stewing in your own juices. Sorry, if you think I’m being crude and impolite here, but I don’t believe in God or Jesus or the hole threesome or whateverthefuckitis.
Misha did play God in the series of Supernatural, so don’t you think he deserves some special treatment for playing a role so big?
it’s kinda funny for you to say that. that guy is trying to help poor people in all around the world and that flight attendant might be over excited to see them . i don’t blame him. it doesn’t have to do a thing with Jesus! how can you make up these stuffs?! may jesus bless you!
The only parent I disagree with is slave to jesus. I’m not a slave and never will be. Worshipper, believer, etc along that line but never slave. Shame that the pope cares more about punishing a whistle blower then wondering why he felt he needed to go to outsiders about corruption in the church. Too many in the catholic church moving priests accused of molesting to another church where all they find is fresh victims. We need to follow the rules but the people who are telling us this aren’t following them themselves. Like Hitler telling Germans to listen only to blonde blue eyed 6 footers and they obey Hitler’s orders even though he is a 5’6″ brown haired and eyed.
BTW the Supernatural cast regularly help with charity. Aside from Collins Random Acts Jensen Ackles recently helped raise money for those with down snydrome in honor of his nephew. Jim Beaver helps raise money for cancer which took his wife. A crew member recently raised support for biking tour to raise money for cancer. Jeffrey Dean Morgan raises money for animal shelters. Samantha Ferris helps raise money for a stable that uses horses for therapy and Jared Padalecki while expecting his 1st child asked fans to donate to St. Jude instead of sending gifts for the baby and raised over $70,000.00 for St. Judes. They also have other charities they at the very least talk about to help saud causes/charities raise money. They gladly use their fame to further a cause or benefit a charity even if they believe they’re nothing special a Ackles described himself at a convention.
I think Misha Collins is one of the coolest celebs out there and if you did your research you’d probably know that he does a LOT of giving back. While I agree that we shouldn’t put others on a pedestal we also shouldn’t display them in a negative light. I’m glad that people like Misha are out there, giving back, regardless of their religious convictions. Shows there is still good out there. Seems kind of silly that you’d spend your entire flight drooling over whatever treatment they had. I would have loved the opportunity to have a conversation with him. Who knows what witnessing you missed out on by judging them rather than taking an interest in them and loving them.
Hello, to be honest, i do agree with you. I am a strong believer and work to serve others and help people as it is my life goal. Working in Haiti is my dream, but i feel if these celebrities, Misha Collins, saw this, which he did, he may be offended as if you are calling them and “anti-Christ”. All i am saying is that you make a valid point, but also bring out that it was just a thought and not something to be negative to them. Sorry is that is offensive to you anyway, but i am also worried about their feelings on this.
A few corrections (aside from the incorrect tense): they didn’t work in an orphanage: they built one, and last year they built a dental clinic. The “friends and fans” are people who’ve raised a lot of money for this (over 200 000 dollars) from across the world in a quite beautiful gesture of trying to help the people of Haiti, even after all the “glamour” of doing so is long gone.
But I have to say that your way of thinking was very spot on and strangely coincidental. Afterall, on Misha’s resume there’s both “Angel” and “God” – and in his private life, there’s “Overlord”. So Praise the Lord: Misha Collins =D
I just want to apologize on behalf of the rest of the Supernatural fandom. The harsh, angry comments above are not indicative of most of us. I appreciate your story and your analogy, and I agree that everyone should be treated equally, regardless of their fame.
Please don’t judge us all by these few.
Thank you for saying this, well said.
Misha did a really great video about helping others, it’s on Youtube: Bing Originals: Supernatural’s Misha Collins
Sorry you’ve drawn so much negativity. You seem like a nice guy. I’m glad you put the comments up so people can see the reaction. It drives home the point you were making about the privileges we grant celebrities.
Great story, Will. And so true.
I know both the actors, not personally unfortunately, & I would have probably been trying to wipe their mouths after each drink & bite. LoL
In response to Jon’s comment: Yes, Misha and Colin are celebrities and, yes, they did receive a lot of donations because of their celebrity status. But it is important to know that these two did not raise money to make themselves more famous. Is it so hard to believe that their intentions are as pure as any other “unknown” who tries to raise money for other communities?
The big difference is that they have the power to encourage people to help and they use it towards a great cause without needing to guilt trip people into giving. They even sacrifice their own money, time and energy towards that cause. We see hundreds of celebrities ask for donations to a fund or charity when there’s the hype surrounding it but rarely any of them actually go beyond a video or two. Misha and Colin actually travelled to Haiti and helped in building an orphanage like every single person who went on that trip with them.
If they get treated specially, I just look at it as the universe’s way of saying thanks for making this world a much better place. These two knew that they had the capacity to give that big in the amount of time they did it, because they had the power to, and they were praised by the crowds for it.
In Misha’s case, I can safely say that any adoration he receives is only minutely because of his celebrity status and largely because of his good and kind-hearted personality.
I Agree with your point,equality in churches is very rarely seen,I came here because Misha Collins Retweeted this, And I feel sorry for you, that you had such a wonderful opportunity to talk to him and tell him about christ and all you did was sit there and think about “celebrity treatment”.That Man is a saint and you should’ve just as well ignored the fact that he is famous and told him that Jesus loves him.
When I read this my first reaction was not that it was portraying anyone as the anti-Christ, or anti-Christian. In fact, I saw it as Misha and Colin brought to attention some of the things that are inherently wrong with the systematic way in which those of the Christian faith make a practice of putting leaders in the church above the congregation. Which is true. That happens. I did feel, slightly, that the way the situation on the plane was described was a bit at a slant.
What is the harm in someone using their social status as a means to garner attention and focus on issues that are near and dear to them? These are issues that we as decent human beings should care about, especially those who follow the Christian doctrine. To the poster above who’s friend couldn’t make his goal for going to China–That is very unfortunate, and I feel very bad that he couldn’t go, but to belittle celebrities causes and efforts just because they are successful seems uncalled for.
To the original poster of the blog, I’m sorry that you felt slighted by the attention that Misha and Colin were shown. They didn’t ask for it. I can also assure you that they were probably both very embarrassed about the whole thing, especially having just come from working long, hard hours–physically working–along side many others, to build a home for children to live and thrive in. A home where they would have clean water, shelter, and nurturing.
Let us not disrespect the good that they did, simply because their profession has the side effect of making them well-known.
As being Part of the Haiti Team in both years I want to say just One thing- Misha inspired me again and again to be a better Person! To so my Little Part to bring Hope to wonderful children in Need, to Show them that we care and that they are Not alone. To spread love and See and Feel the Goodness in People around me. I am Not very religous but that what you are telling the World to do right? He is a Great Human being- I don’t know this flight/Cookies Story Thing…but belueve me-he would always Look for somebody around him who is in Need for this Cookies!
Is it better to sit back and judge these men without even talking to them, or talk to them and see what kind of people they are for yourself?
Consider this your reminder: “Judge not, lest ye be judged.”
Before ppl reply calling down the author of the original post, I think we need to read and acknowledge the fact that the author specifically and deliberately indicates that he’s not calling down Misha C or Colin F (in fact he’s mildly complimentary), but rather is asking his readers to think about our society’s response to celebrity, and our priorities. Yes, he’s writing in a Christian context;,it’s a Christian blog, people. It’s a perfectly appropriate place to post such things. The commenters who are leaping, all enraged, to yell at the author without taking the time to actually read and understand the post are kind of proving the author’s point.
For my own part, I feel that it was inappropriate for the steward to give special treatment to some passengers due to celebrity. I am a fan of Misha and have enjoyed what I’ve seen of Colin’s work, but that steward did not represent his employer well.
I see your point here, and it’s a good one, but I also kinda think this came out… Well, it sounds like you’re jealous. I can understand how it might have been irritating that these “somebodies” got extra attention and better care than you. I mean, the steward went above and beyond what he would usually do for any other passenger, but what I really get out of this is envy. The point you make is valid, we SHOULDN’T treat some people better than others, but come on. It was one harmless flight, some small cookies, and warm towels–chill.
Oh, and I would like to apologize for any really out there, really obsessive, “Misha Collins is God himself, burn and die” comments. I haven’t seen any so far, but I also haven’t read all of them. I’m hoping you don’t get any, but devout fans we are. Sometimes we just get ahead of our selves, and post before we think. So, thanks for sharing the experience, happy blogging, and I hope you enjoy the Misha fan spam you’re getting.
“There are no “important” Christians, only slaves to Jesus
There is no such thing as a powerful church member, only servants”
I’m sorry Will, but are you serious? No important Christians? No such thing as a powerful church member? Well, where do I start? Why not at the top – How about the Pope? To deny this is absolutely ridiculous. Under the tenets of Christianity, everyone might be equal, but in reality, they’re not.
And why didn’t you even talk to these two gentlemen that you were sitting next to? Why didn’t you even get the second gentleman’s name (Colin Ferguson). When writing a blog like this, I think it would be good manners to name both or neither. Personally, I don’t think you should have named either – the point of your article was the different way some celebrities are treated, not the way these two in particular were treated. Naming them (or at least one of them) detracted attention from the point you were making. Your anecdote and subsequent moralising did not depend on knowing which particular men were sitting next to you.
Any fan of Misha and/or Colin understands why the steward was fawning, but that doesn’t matter. That doesn’t mean he should have acted like that (I doubt that the airline encourages it – why should they? there is nothing for them to gain), but it was understandable. Surely by the standards of your own faith you should not be judging him for it? All you’ve done is say rather petulantly, “He was ignoring me. I wouldn’t have ignored him.” Well, he’s human, as are we all.
Thanks for the thought provoking post. I read it and then took a few days to consider it. Although there isn’t an exact fit, your post reminds me most strongly of two gospel stories; first, the story of Mary and Martha of Bethany and Martha’s complaint to Jesus; second, the story of the prodigal son and the older son’s complaint to his father.
Christianity does teach us that all people are equal but it also teaches that this does not mean that when someone receives something that another does not, there is something wrong with that. In both of the above mentioned stories someone, in the first story – Martha, in the second story – the older son, complain of an injustice because someone else has received something which they have not received. In both cases they are told there is no injustice.
I think these stories pretty clearly teach that we should not be looking around to see what other people are getting and thinking that there is some kind of injustice involved when we are not getting the same. Unfortunately, that is what this post seems to do; you saw something being given to Misha and Colin and not to you and you thought there was some kind of injustice going on (though you are kindly careful not to blame either the flight attendant or the actors). I don’t think there was anything wrong with what happened. The bible teaches us that all people are equal and that we should be fair but, in the above mentioned stories and others, it also teaches us that this doesn’t mean that everyone has some sort of right to receive exactly the same things, we should not be looking around to make sure we get as much as everyone else.
It is good to give and it is good to act out of love. Unless I am mistaken the flight attendant didn’t mistreat you or anyone else; he just treated the actors extra well, giving them first class treatment in coach. These particular actors aren’t ultra famous, the people who recognize them are people who enjoy and appreciate their work. The flight attendant chose to express his appreciation for their work by serving them, quite literally. I think that is in keeping with what the bible teaches. Further I think that the bible also teaches, e.g. in the two above mentioned stories, that we should appreciate generous acts as expressions of love and that we should not look at generosity shown to others and feel slighted or think there is something unjust going on because we have not received the same treatment.
As a final observation, I think the second bullet point in your second group of bullet points might have been better expressed as ‘only servants to Jesus’; God gave us free will, we are taught that he wants us to choose to love him. By definition, slaves are not slaves by choice.
Thanks again for the thought provoking post. I’m glad Misha linked to it as it meant I got the chance to read it and think about it.
I wish that everyone that was blessed with celebrity would have it in mind how to best leverage that influence for the good of others. I really like that about Misha Collins and other people blessed with that type of audience attention who similarly use that power for good. There’s just too many that seek only to enjoy themselves and the priviledges that such recognition brings them.
And I think that any fan of Misha’s who has some level of maturity wouldn’t be “hating on” this blog’s author, and that any reader of this blog who likewise has some level of maturity won’t be “hating on” Misha or his fans, or taking it as anything but a bit of ‘tongue-in-cheek’ humor on Misha’s part to tweet about this blog post in which the author chose to specifically mention Misha, instead of saying “two celebrities” and leaving it at that.
As for the whole point of this blog post – that people of the Christian faith should not play favorites – whether someone is famous, rich, ‘influential’, political, etc.. – I agree, though I’m pretty sure that the Bible mentions that we are all ‘brothers’ in Christ (though I think that if they had been speaking in modern times they would have used ‘siblings’ instead).
All these are just words. At the end of the day Misha Collins doesn’t know I exist. The author of this post doesn’t know I exist. I’ve never met the flight attendant. Therefore I cannot make assumptions about any of them.
While I understand frustrations over not being treated the same,these gentlemen regardless of celebrity status or religion, just got back from helping a lot of people. Not saying it means they deserve special treatment, but it doesn’t give you the right to compare them to anyone or for any reason.
All this needs to stop. Nothing is going to change when people keep fighting each other. We all should be fighting the fairies!
Look at it this way, the fans who also went to Haiti to help build and help the people there, those fans were doing the same thing Misha and Colin were doing. Those fans gave their time to help. They are no different then Misha, yet I bet while you think Misha deserves to be treated better because he was just coming back from helping others. the fans who did the same thing Misha was doing were not treated with the same respect coming back home. So, no, Misha doesn’t desereve to be treated better just because he was coming back from helping those in need because fans who were also there for the same reason Misha was, were probably not treated with the same respect.
Dear Sam – I think you didn’t read the part of Elizabeth’s post where she said “Not saying it means they deserve special treatment”.
I believe that she was just making the point that this was perhaps not an occasion to moralize about special treatment – better perhaps would have been to reflect on the good work they had just done and be glad that there are people willing to help not just by giving money but by giving their time and effort.
ever thought that misha is the reason for the fans to be there with him in the first place at all? he encouraged and inspired them to come along. and i have to give it to the fans, because they are some of the awesome people in this world to do what they are doing. anyway the point is misha is the main inspiration here. he gathered his fans to do something good in this world. instead of giving them is autograph and a photograph.
colin is awesome for going with our crazy misha. i think he was being a good friend.
i’m a die hard misha collins fan in a way like i really adore him but not in a way that i would spend money on him. i do have a life.
but what that flight attendant is not right at all. (even though as a celebrity misha and colin should have chosen to by first class, they are not that rich. they are doing charity here not luxury.) partiality is not good anywhere. its wrong. the actors chose to be simple, so they should have been treated like such.
if the flight attendant was a super fan of misha or colin, then i think thats i different story.
even though he should have acted like a worker there, and not as a fan. he should have known that it will hurt the other passengers feelings.
another thing i want to ask the author of this article is that if he would have felt the same way if the actor sitting next to him was brad pitt or robert pattison, like someone more famous not misha who is known to only a certain amount of people?
is the author willing to justify that their treatment should be based on their popularity? lets be honest the man who wrote this article would not have broke a sweat if it was brad pitt who was getting special treatment than him.
writing this article showed that you are a petty man and you have so much anger inside you,something that you should have dealt with by yourself.
ever heard of therapy, i bet it will be good for you.
Haha. Is this seriously about someone accepting free cookies on a flight? Yes, yes, I know there was seemingly more depth to it. But, seriously?
I did a little research on Misha because I am not what people are referring to as a “fangirl” and, to be honest, he’s done quite a bit, even before he was a celebrity. IN FACT, him being a celebrity has given him a wider reach to help others in need! I wish there were more celebrities that used their status to help people. He could have simply done nothing. (I bet the kids he helped in Haiti certainly would disagree with this post)
And, he’s being faulted for accepting cookies (Bring out the shackles!) I think he deserves cookies. Warm ones, at that!
And, yes, I DO think Will was faulting him, his companion and the flight attendant, despite Will saying otherwise.
Definition of fault: a misdeed or transgression.
Did Will think the way that the flight attendant acts was wrong? Clearly, yes. That is what the whole post was about-the flight attendant treating the celebrities better than the rest of the other terribly neglected people on the plane. FAULT.
Does he fault how Misha and Colin reacted to this treatment? Because somehow Will can TELL that they always “expect” this treatment? Clearly, yes because the whole post is because of this interaction.
Can’t we all just be happy that someone is using their power for good? Jesus did. Maybe next time we should tell Mary Magdalene to skip on the feet washing with tears unless she plans to offer it to everyone in the same vicinity. Exaggeration? Most definitely. But that’s how I feel like this whole post is. A big exaggeration, an unfortunate encounter that was blown way out of proportion.
Sorry you had a less than attentive flight attendant, get over it. Hope you get warm cookies offered to you in the future.
I doubt Will Davis Jr. really cares what I have to think and that’s his right. He can have his opinion if I can have mine. It’s obviously his blog to write what he wishes, but it’s also other people’s right to respond to it.
Feel free to comment, I will not respond nor read any replies.
I most certainly agree with this.
Little late to the party, but after reading the post and reading the comments, here is the true test on whether or not you follow Jesus’ teachings or totally missed the point:
If Jesus himself was sitting on the plane, would it then have been inappropriate for the attendants to treat him differently from the other passengers?
I almost agree with everything that Christianity dictates except its blind worship and idolatry of Jesus. I think that completely goes against the point of his teachings, in particular this one.
Hey Amber, welcome to the blog and thanks for the comments! Will
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Tired! Bored!!
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To be honest with you, I am not a Christian, but I did read through this. I believe that Misha is just a very joking person – he doesn’t mean to hurt anyone, he takes things lightly and isn’t too serious about stuff, especially in his tweets. So, Misha obviously didn’t think that his fans are that stupid as to go and hate on someone else’s opinion on things. Maybe he finds this funny.
Also the minions really need to look at it in a lighter manner, not cause a huge war among the believers and the non-believers. Misha Collins is not trying to bring him down, he is not being harsh, or offensive, but y’all are.
It’s quite upsetting, how blinded people can be. You can politely state that you disagree – no harm in that, but saying harsh things and offending him is not the way to go.
Please think about it, you guys aren’t being very reasonable about this.
Daaaang, I’d have been offering to at least rub his feet in that close of a proximity! He had just busted his ass in Haiti heat for the well-being of beautiful children!
Having just seen this post via Misha’s tweet, I am quite late, but after reading the blog and all comments, I felt I wanted to put in my two pence worth.. Both my parents are Pastors and Bible teachers and Missionaries and I have been brought up with the Bible and what is right and wrong and to treat others how you wish to be treated etc.. not that it matters, because basic common sense should tell you that…
However, I wanted to say this… It astounds me how many people missed the point of the actual post, especially one in particular who is “hating” on Misha.
I am sure the author here didn’t mean any disrespect towards Misha or Colin and while I myself wouldn’t have mentioned their names to get my point across in the great scheme of things IT DOESNT MATTER!
His only point was, how we treat others regardless of their celebrity status. It is true, we should treat everyone equally, though my thoughts are if it were me on the plane instead of sitting there quietly observing, I think I would have begun to make polite conversation with them. After all, if they are my equals, there would be nothing wrong in that and I am sure Misha and Colin would have been delighted to share their experience in Haiti. After all what they have just done is a pretty cool Christian thing even if they don’t believe in God. It would also have been a great opportunity to witness to the two men and given them examples of how the Random Acts of Kindness organization is a very Christian message and what they are doing to help other people is exactly what Jesus would do, and has done….
So while its a good message about treating others equally, maybe look at it from another point of view… this flight attendant guy could just simply have been doing an Random Act of Kindness to Misha and Colin after they have just been doing theirs in Haiti.
Another important message…try not to look at what others are getting… and what you’re not getting… you could instead turn it into something positive and ask yourself what they have just given out in such charitable way, maybe they are getting it back by being treated a bit extra special… if you had talked to them, instead of “observing” maybe you might have been invited to share their treats.
I feel that you lost a great opportunity here to spread the Christian word and done your Random Act of Kindness for the day by sharing with Misha and Colin how God loves them.
Hey Ruthie, welcome to the blog!
Thanks for the welcome.
I’m a huge Misha fan — i don’t think this article was knocking him at all — it was knocking the flight attendant more — it said several times how gracious Misha and his friend were…
I think cookies were just pure affection from a guy who was in charge of foods on plane. A fun would do that kind of thing, and I found it rather good. Affection is affection, after all.