Tragedy
full tummies = happy smiles
The entertainment industry is in mourning following the death of more than one celebrity this week. Of course it’s sad when people die. It’s devastating for their families and for those who knew and loved them. But a tragedy? I’m not so sure…
I understand that Michael Jackson made a significant contribution to the music scene over an extended period of time. But does that make his life, or his death, more important than another person’s? I’m just saying let’s keep some perspective.
Every six seconds a child dies from hunger or related causes. That means that three kids have probably died while you’ve been reading this post. Three mothers have had to say goodbye to a child they carried within them, gave birth to, nursed and loved. On the day that one superstar died, sixteen thousand super little kids died too. No paramedics came, no paparazzi documented the occasion, there was no extended news coverage, and the world didn’t mourn for them. They didn’t get fifty years to live. Most of them didn’t make it to five. We’ll never know if they might have been musical geniuses themselves, because they died of hunger. To me, that’s a tragedy.
The king of pop said this:
Heal the world, make it a better place
For you and for me and the entire human race
There are people dying, if you care enough for the living
Make a better place for you and for me.
The Bible says this:
Then the King will say… ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance… For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me… I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (Matt 25:34-40)
What do you say…?
It is all very sad. No parent should have to bury their child. It is bad enough seeing them sick, knowing they are gone forever would be so hard to handle.
The most sensible post I have seen on the death of MJ. Such a indictment on our society that we allow so many children to die each day from preventable causes.
Wow. That is so very true. Everyone does a song and dance when a well known personality dies but why is his life anymore important than anybody else’s. Especially that of a child, who may have had amazing gifts to offer the world.
that’s the way I feel too.
That is the real tragedy.
It puts it in perspective … I hope the song moves people too.
I’m so pleased to read this post. I have been feeling so irritated with all the hoo-haw over the celebrity deaths for exactly these reasons.
I mean, it’s sad. Of course it’s sad. But it is not MORE sad than every other death.
Thanks everyone for your support of this post… I really weighed up whether or not to share my thoughts on this, but I’m glad that I did.
It’s all a matter of perspective and I think ours as a whole is very out of whack. Well said!
Very true and very sad … nobody cares so those hungry people …
Very well said. Thank you.
Marita sent me here and I’m glad she did. Brilliant post!!!!
Michael Jackson is my favorite pop artist ever since i was a child. He is truly the King of Pop and i am saddened by this news.
So beautifully said Cath. It is true, we are a world that has totally lost persepective on what is important and what is not. I guess with music being such a powerful medium to move people, and everyone having watched MJ grow up (and crash down) people the world over feel like they knew him somehow.
Thanks so much for writing this post, and for the love behind it. I have tried to share this perspective myself and don’t think I did it half as well as you. As we share this post with our friends, may God be honoured as people reconsider serving others as an expression of our love for God & His Word.
Well said Cath. Most of our mourning and adoration is nothing but human hypocrisy. Granted, MJ was a great artist but how will he be remembered in the eyes of God? Is it in the years of his great artistic genius or the later years of tragedy and scandal? May God have mercy on his soul.