Talking Immortality with Blake Lively

Blake Lively got her break in Hollywood when she landed a role in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. She would go on to star in Green Lantern, Gossip Girl and The Age of Adaline. In addition to being an actress and wife to Ryan Reynolds, Lively is also a mom. We interviewed Lively one year ago and talked with her about immortality and how she uses her platform as a celebrity to influence others.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,” Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

Lively shares with us how she uses her platform as a human, parent and a celebrity to make a difference in the lives of others.

“I feel like there are many different levels- your idea as just a human, or a parent, you want to make a difference in your child’s life or your family’s life. But then I’m lucky to be given a platform when I get to sit here and speak and reach more people. So there are people that we [as celebrities] can reach and lives we can help with the voice we’re given. So in my company Preserve, we give a portion of our proceeds back to Covenant House, which is providing beds and clothes and food to homeless kids in the US. We also help them start their own programs like a savings account and let them live there for more than just 30 days; they can stay up to a year-and-a-half, and they really teach them to be independent. It is so important to give people the education and skills to take care of themselves. It is just a small thing, but it makes it really rewarding.” 

“a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:5-8

Lively opens up on her views of aging and having to have a future in order to love a certain way.

“It’s the idea that immortality is very appealing until you realize what makes life so special is the people you get to live it with. It seems hoakie, but imagine if you eliminated everyone in your life and you got to live decade through decade, century through century- you wouldn’t want that. It’s about the experience and it’s about the people you love, so it really shows you that time and love are directly related to each other. I feel like people worry about mortality, but aging is something society puts on you. It’s more of an aesthetic thing and something that other people are worried about like, ‘Oh you are looking older.’ But I don’t think people sit at home and think, ‘I’m going to age slightly.’ When you are worried that your hand is looking older or you have a crease in your eye, it is because it’s innately and instinctively related to mortality. To me, if you take away any of that superficial element then it is sad to not age.”

Risen Reflections

Use your platform. Whether you are an athlete, celebrity, student, or professional, God has given each of us a platform to share our faith with those around us. It can be sharing one-on-one with a friend or co-worker, in a small group like a sports team, or a large group at an outreach. Pray and ask God what he wants you to share. Take time and write your testimony out. Consider sharing it with your small group or a friend before and asking them for feedback.

Seize the day. Remember that tomorrow is not promised. Take time this week to reflect on how you are using the time, talent, and treasure that God has entrusted you with. Pray and ask God if you are using them to glorify Him. Rather than put things off, take advantage of every opportunity placed in front of you. God has placed many people around us who are full of wisdom. Whether it is a family member or mentor from church, consider taking a couple hours this month to spend with them and learn from them. It can be life lessons, spiritual lessons or even something practical.

Spend time with those you love. It is so easy to get caught up in the business of life, that we put off spending time with friends and family members. Take time this week to slow down. Enjoy dinner with the family and put away the cell phones. Reach out to a friend you haven’t seen in a while and grab coffee. Ask a friend how you can pray for them and pray for them daily. At the end of the week, meet up with them and see how they are doing.