Over the past few weeks, there have been a number of celebrities that have passed.
(This subject comes up at a time as we have just learned that an acquaintance of the past few years lost his wife and never shared the news with those of us who loved and cared for them both.)
We all have memories of people that gave us something we enjoyed during a part of our life… My favorite singer and author both passed the same week, just 4 days apart back in 1997. The first 53 years old, plane crash. The other was 90, old age… They are on my calendar as a yearly memorial and I listen to their music and read their books even this week. John Denver. James Michener.
My wife was touched by Audie Murphy, a war hero, and an actor. So. We visited his memorial at Arlington recently. He was a Texan! That should be reason enough. However, when you have someone you connect to then you want to connect to a memorial.
Audie Leon Murphy was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II, receiving every military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism
What a somber place. So many gone long before their time was spent properly.
My wife and I noted that for several of these celebrities we were surprised they were just now passing. We thought they must have assuredly gone over a long time ago. While at the same time, there are younger faces that no longer appear in the public eye because they have quietly chosen to go into the night. In fact, one young actress stated in an article to Vogue (No! I don’t read Vogue. This was an Internet story of interest!):
“Ninety percent of acting roles involve so much sexual stuff with other people, and I don’t want to do that,” she explained to Vogue. “It’s such a strange fire to play with, and our relationship is surely strong enough to handle it, but if you’re going to walk through fire, there has to be something incredible on the other side.” [Source]
Kudos to a young actress who knew what she wanted out of life and acted in accordance with her desires. I’m happy to see her walk away from the excessive Hollywood crowd, head high, maintaining her personal values. I pray she becomes what she wants to be, and to have enough bravery to define her boundaries.
This brings me to a particular point for today. It’s amazing how we lose contact with those of our past and are surprised when their name pops up on our radar only to find it’s for that final memorial act. It is a sad thing to lose connection with friends of a bye-gone era and then to feel remorse at the loss.
Could you perhaps take a moment this week and work on re-connecting to friends and loved ones from your past and strive to reconnect before it's too late? Share on X
On the other hand, I’ve spent this past year in my calling with not a single contact from anyone in my zone other than to ask me to do a particular task, and that came by email and voicemail. There are no friends here except for those in my immediate sphere of influence. One of these days I’ll look over my shoulder at this time of life and realize that it’s all been about family, church family, and close friends in our immediate neighborhood. I’ve grown weary of being the one to initiate contact. It’s about time for some reciprocity.
Do not get me wrong.
I do not Need you any more than you Need me!
But there is something about keeping the conversation alive and going, you know,
sort of kicking the can down the road until one of us is no longer here…
I’ve got a cousin from my youth and we connect up every 6-12 months, or so. That works for us. My siblings are a different contact style and we all know how busy the other is, only it would be good to have a family gathering every several years and re-connect! I’ve got good friends that I worked with 30 years ago, and we connect up and stay in tune with each other. However, he recently passed away and that’s one connection I’ll miss. I’ve got friends in so many other parts of the country and am happy to stay connected, even when life’s events keep us tagged in only by email.
As family was leaving our house Saturday, my one and only grandchild began weeping uncontrollably, not wanting to leave grandma and grandpa… When they finally left the drive, her mom texted us and repeated her words to us, “She’s sad, but just thinking about family...” Wisdom from a 5-year old.
Here’s another add-on thought… We want the “friendship with Jesus, fellowship divine” connection with God. But we talk to him so seldom, but expect instant contact when something has gone wrong. There are few biblical lessons regarding the concept and relationship between friends.
- So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. …(Exodus 33:11 NKJV)
- And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, …” (Genesis 18:17 NKJV)
- And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (James 2:23 KJV)
- This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
(John 15:12-15 KJV)
In my immediate neighborhood of life, there are several aging connections who are not long for this world. It will be sad for them to go and for no one to make an attempt to reach out to them. Thank them for their connection. Pray for them. Love on them a little bit… Just that needed spoonful of sugar to help ease the suffering.
Just saying… Selah.