Monday, October 13, 2008

I'm not Glen, I'm not Jesus, I'm Jon



Lately I have encountered several Koreans who have compared my looks to those of two famous people, and have left me shaking my head. In the last two weeks I have had literally six different Koreans come up to me and tell me I look like the guy from the movie “Once” which actually happens to be one of my favorite movies. The guy they are referring to (his name is Glen Hansard, and he’s Irish) has curly red hair that looks nothing like mine, but I guess is easy to overlook due to his having a beard. Its crazy, because the movie “Once” is an independent film, and most people I have talked to haven’t seen it, yet all these Korean people have somehow seen it and think I am the walking talking clone of Glen Hansard. So, that is person #1. Person #2 is…can you guess? Jesus! No I didn’t just swear, people keep telling me that I look like Jesus, to which I try to respond with something witty and Jesus-esk like, “you are forgiven, my son,” or “stop illegally downloading music, every time you do I kill a kitten in heaven.” Anyway, although I don’t claim to be like Jesus, nor do I claim omnipotence, omnipresence or the ability to forgive sins, I would be lying if I said I didn’t see this one coming. I mean, lets face it, the Jesus comparison is practically a default for anyone who wears the beard. Jesus made the look cool, I’m just trying to keep it in style.

Anyway, that’s the latest, and although I would not claim it to be a thought of much depth, I hope it will cause you to reexamine the stereotypes you hold, and to think twice next time you call someone with a beard Jesus.

1 comment:

marylee.j said...

you know...
i'm a huge fan of Glen Hansard
[specifically in that movie]
and Jesus too, for that matter. ha.
not bad people to be mistaken for.

love that you give credit where credit is due when it comes to the beard trend.
He did make them cool.
and as a fan of the look, thank you for keeping the trend going.

funny to hear the stories about your class, too. good to know the Lord is using them to teach you as well.
so, i guess that means not only did He make beards cool, but He's a God of humor, which is pretty great too.

keep embracing your journey.
prayers are with you boys in korea.