Asking the Impolite Question

Two very famous people died yesterday....along with a whole lot of other people who were not famous. The media talks on and on and on about the contributions of those who were famous. No one asks what has apparently become an impolite question....where are they today?

Of course, no one really knows the answer to that for any of us. No one else knows what is in our minds and hearts, all private and hidden away in our innermost beings.

Most of those in the media probably believe there is no 'today' for those who died yesterday, or perhaps, they believe in a peaceful beyond into which we all pass regardless of the life we have lived.

But suppose, heaven and hell actually exist, and there is some defining question? Has your life conformed to God's plan for you? Have you considered God's claim on your life? What have you done with Jesus?

Last night I listened to a clip from an interview Barbara Walters did with Farrah Fawcett. At one point, Farrah said, "I just think I should be able to do what I want to do." Now maybe this was not her basic life philosophy, maybe the clip was somehow taken out of context. But, what if it was the theme of her life? Would her talent, beauty, bravery in her fight against cancer, or love for her son mean more in evaluating her life, than such an underlying philosophy?

Similarly, I saw a clip of an interview Ed Bradley did with Michael Jackson. He tried to get Michael to admit that his behavior with young boys certainly looked 'bad' to others...allowing young boys who were not related to him to sleep in his bed. Michael's response indicated that he could do this, and that anyone who thought ill of it was just plain wrong. He could defy social convention, and it should be ignored. In other words, he should be allowed to do what he wanted to do. His talent was immense, but does that entitle him to go against what society views as acceptable in dealing with children?

Here's the thing....none of us gets to do what we want to do all...or even most...of the time. We all have to live in the context of a family and a society and many other relationships in which someone else's needs or wishes may override ours. For many of us, we also decide to live in the context of a relationship with God. We believe it is that relationship, and not immense talent or fame, which will determine our destiny for eternity.

I don't know where Michael or Farrah or anyone else who died yesterday is today. God is wiser than I. He alone knows what is hidden to all others. But, 'today' someone who died yesterday in obscurity may be the one receiving the loudest applause.