‘It Has Meaning Because It Has Meaning’
Thursday, January 3rd, 2008The great actor, Denzel Washington was on NPR’s Fresh Air Wednesday. The interviewer, Terri Gross (who is an outstanding interviewer by the way) peppered Washington with many questions about hi growing up in the church where his father was a pastor. They discuss it a bit before they get to this gem of a quote.
Terri Gross: I guess I’m wondering if it (Christianity/the church) has even more meaning because you were so brought up in it. Because your father …
Denzel Washington: No, it has meaning because it has meaning. Because I believe in the Scriptures. I’m a God-fearing man who believes what he reads in the Bible and that has meaning. The meaning that it has, the effect that it has on me it had on him and thousand, if not millions, of other followers.
He goes on to describe his admiration for Paul and the leaders in the Old Testament as well.
He then drops this piece of knowledge on her and us:
“Everything I’ve done in my career, and hopefully in my life is a reflection of my spiritual upbringing and cultivation. I’m not saying I’ve been an angel all my life, heaven knows I haven’t, you know. But you learn, you know, in fact, I was…because I had to go to church I rebelled against the church, and as probably many people out there who have gone through that based on whatever negative experiences they may have had. But I can say this to you, whatever success I’ve had is a direct result of my faith and the grace of God in my life. Period. It’s not hanging out with the right people and it’s not studying or training at some school, or acting school. It’s a gift from God, I recognize that. We all have it, so the question is not what you have, but what are you gonna do with what you have.”
Full disclosure: This particular quote part was transcribed by this guy. The first quote was me transcribing it listening back to the podcast.
Go give the whole thing a listen because he goes on to give some other insights into his faith. Fresh Air is a great program and I have much respect for Denzel Washington as a person now as well.
