Actor Heath Ledger is dead, at age 28. I never met him, but I liked his work. I laughed like crazy at "A Knight's Tale." But I was sorely disappointed that he would do a movie like "Brokeback Mountain." He was born 6 years after me. He was a father to a little girl named Matilda Rose. He'd been complaining of sleeplessness and a racing mind. He was found with prescription sleeping pills around his dead body.
Why am I writing about this famous man's sudden death? To read the internet posts about his life, you'd think he was a victim of some terrible tragedy. He wasn't poor...quite the contrary. He wasn't terminally ill...he was in the "prime of his life." He wasn't without people who cared for him...though sorting out who a true friend is might be tricky when you're rich and famous. But Heath couldn't seem to be happy with the life he had. No peace. No lasting happiness. No joy. Heath needed Jesus Christ.
I am riveted by this story this morning because only moments before stumbling on to this Headliner story, I had been thinking of my own life and how Jesus gives everything meaning. The opposite would be no meaning. This is perhaps what gripped Heath Ledger...no meaning. A life that was not what he'd hoped for...even though it looked so glitzy from the outside. He'd perhaps gotten close to the top of what "life" had to offer him and saw the view was not beautiful. It was a rat-race. It was a sham.
So I turn to Jesus this morning, and I thank Him for saving me...from hell and from "this life" that could have been lived without meaning. And I remember that if I'm living for myself, joy will elude me. Except for the grace of God, I would be without hope. And I pray for the little fatherless girl Heath left behind, his grieving parents and sister. That God would arrest their hearts.
"My people have exchanged their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this: be shocked, be utterly desolate," says the Lord; "for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water." Jeremiah 2:11-13
2 comments:
Every time I read your blog I just want to comment and say, "I love you." And I really do. I love your perspective and the way the Lord leads your thoughts. This post is so profoundly true. Kristin, I love that you are able to sift through everything in life and see Jesus. I'm so thankful that you are my friend!
Julie
Thanks for checking out my blog Kristin.
Your thoughts here on your blog are very encouraging. God's work within you is very evident.
Carol
Post a Comment