Tebowmania. (Tim Tebow)
Linsanity. (Jeremy Lin)
Michelle Bachman's, Herman Cain's, Rick Perry's, Newt Gingrich's, or Rick Santorum's surges in the 2012 GOP Presidential polls.
All of the above people have experienced or are experiencing a rapid surge in popularity. The rapid changes of what is and what was popular in the United States have shown me a few things about current American culture.
1. Christianity Isn't Dead. All of those people are either Christian or Catholic and most of them are outspoken about their faith. At the same time, I think it's a natural outcome of this that evangelism isn't dead either.
2. Excellence Rises. Now, obviously every successful athlete and viable presidential candidate doesn't always get the attention they deserve, but people who excel get attention. In the cases of Tim Tebow, Jeremy Lin, and a few of the candidates (this is arguable, but Herman Cain fits in this category well), the famed rises of popularity is magnified by unexpectedness--these people's rises to fame were all as unexpected as they were spectacular.
3. Even Little Things Cause a Loss of Favor. Tebow lost some big games. Aspects of the candidates' pasts or unfortunate things said caused them to lose popularity. Jeremy Lin is still on top, but he won't stay there forever (even if he has an incredible career, he'll still have to retire someday).
4. Loss Favor Isn't The End. Tebow and Lin still have athletic careers ahead of them, then also have great future plans; most of the candidates will never become president, but will have high-profile, high-paying careers in their futures. Loss of favor is the close of a chapter, not the end of a life.
5. No One Is Content. Some of the people I listed above will stay on top for a while, and others will fade soon; however, the fact that this rise and fall occurs is that there is little contentment in society today. Boredom comes quickly, and replacement comes even quicker.
To Wrap It All Up. The world has many rises and many falls. You may be successful now, you may have been successful in the past, or you may have success in your future. Wherever and whenever that success happens, it won't be permanent. Some successes will last a long time and others will burn out soon, but all will eventually end. Only two things remain: Faith and Excellence. The people I listed above are all guided by their faith, and they have risen to the top because of the excellence they practice in their lives.
Live each day with the purpose of doing and being the best you possible can do and be. Let the principles of your faith guide each step that you take. It is discouraging to realize that success isn't permanent, but it can also be encouraging. When you arrive at that point in your journey where you are no longer at the top, it is encouraging to remember that you didn't fail, you just reached a point that everyone else reaches (especially since discontentment is so prevalent).
