The Curious Case Of Tammy Faye

Ginger has an insightful post this morning about Tammy Faye Bakker Messner.

I started hearing stories of the beloved icon she became within the gay community. Sure, her outrageous makeup, hair, and personality were the perfect draw. But more than that, it was because she never judged them for living their lives differently than what she thought they should.

Let me say this, I did what Ginger said she did. When I was a kid and television channels were a bit different than they are today, I would watch the PTL Club and shudder with what I perceived as hypocrisy. Amusement Parks, diamond rings, blatant using of money that, in my mind at least and I think I’m right here, from people that wasn’t using the tithes for helping people, but to endorse just a few people into a “rock and roll” sort of lifestyle, all in the name of the Lord.

Can I get an Amen?

Anyway, after Jim Bakkers’ fall from grace and making monkey noises in the courtroom before going to jail, I tended to be amused more than anything else. But I remembered another show Tammy Faye had called House Party with Tammy Faye. I watched it (remember, not as many channels on the tube) and it was a hoot.

Later on, after Jim Bakker and the Jessica Hahn thing happened, I was a bit self-righteous about it all and said to myself “Well, this is no surprise.”

But, watching Tammy Faye on Surreal Life having actual real-life conversations with porn star Ron Jeremy without judgement (she didn’t approve, but she didn’t judge), being nice to people, being very human and non-judgmental got me to thinking.

Maybe she was a nice person? Maybe I had misjudged her. She didn’t take part in the random antics and stupidity that some of the other houseguests did, but she didn’t throw things at them either. She signed a copy of her book on the show and gave a testimonial, and people from all walks of life came to get her to sign it. I watched, quite honestly, with interest.

See, and this is a rare post of this nature from me, maybe, just maybe later in her life, she practiced what she preached. Maybe, she accepted everyone. And maybe she did take the good book to heart.

Maybe she always did, I don’t know. It’s not for me to judge either.

My mother died of cancer, I’ve written about that many times, I’ve seen my mother look like Tammy Faye looked last night. There wasn’t any fear, just exhaustion. There was hope and optimism in the face of death. She seemed at peace.

She looks awful. Doesn’t look like she’s long for this world, but I respond so much more to people who see faith as love and acceptance and not as a weapon. And I think Tammy Faye is just about dang inspirational.

So, Mrs. Tammy Faye Messner, you take care. You got me thinking about the big picture and you are going through the final stages of your life with grace, dignity and love.

And, that my friends, is a good thing.