Mr. Rogers Was the Genuine Article

In the movie, Leap of Faith, Steve Martin played a preacher/swindler for a traveling revival show.  His character, Jonas Nitengale, was only afraid of one thing – not the cops, (you can always get around the cops) – but the genuine article.

When I think of the “genuine article”, I immediately think of Fred Rogers, of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.  Fred Rogers passed away in 2003 and in my opinion left a huge hole in the world.

Mr. Rogers Neighborhood aired from 1968 to 2001 and each day, pre-schoolers accepted a gentle man in a cardigan sweater for their friend.  For much of this time, there were only a few networks – and also fewer annoying choices of questionable television shows to affect young minds.  There was no cable TV, and hence no Cartoon Network or its peers.  Mr. Rogers was on PBS (not PBS Kids), and if you dig deeper, you’ll discover that Fred Rogers almost singlehandedly saved public television.  But that is another story.

Mr Rogers was the genuine article.  He was not an actor playing a nice man who cared about children. He was the nice man who cared about children.  There was no slogan or business plan that declared that every child was to be special and loved – just the way they were.  Mr. Rogers stoutly believed and lived and preached and showed every day that this is true.  When Mr Rogers talked to children, he talked with children in a way where they felt safe, loved, and respected – even though he was confined into a small TV screen.

For many people, I dare to say, that Fred Rogers was their first mentor.  He was that loving person who was there when their parents were not – even if it was for a short time while a parent was doing housework.  He was a person that could be trusted to spend a quality half hour with any child and knowing that each will come out a better person.

He was the genuine article.

In 1997, Fred Rogers was presented an Academy Award for lifetime achievement.  His acceptance speech brought everyone, the “great” of Hollywood, to tears as he challenged them to just take ten seconds to remember the special people who have allowed them to succeed. It is worth watching a video of his short speech HERE.

There is no trick to being an effective mentor for a young person.  Mr. Rogers proved this by a lifetime ministry of just being himself and treating all he came in contact with as loved, respected, and special neighbors.  Anyone can do this.  Kids can easily see through you if you are insincere – putting on a show – trying too hard to fit in – or not yourself. By embracing the fact that you – an adult – are special and unique too, you are well on your way to being the genuine article.