What do Edgar Allen Poe, Henry David Thoreau, Franz Kafka, and Emily
Dickinson have in common? OK, they are all authors of some fame. But don’t
give up there, why are they famous, and what made them famous? It is something
that is unique to all people, death. For all of these authors, including F.
Scott Fitzgerald and many others never achieved fame while still living, it was
only upon death their works became read and became widespread. Fame eluded them
in life, but caught up with them in death. Maybe not so much financially as
Elvis and Michael Jackson, whose estates continue to rake in multi millions
after their deaths, but they achieved fame by their works, which only came to
light in death, or rather after. Proving to some there is an afterlife, at
least in fame. And sadly many believe Elvis is alive but God is dead.
Edgar Allen Poe was a tragic figure, selling The Raven for $9, previously
writing anonymously after failing in both college and a military career.
Adopted, he moved around his whole life, a tragic figure, an alcoholic, his life
spiraling downhill after the death of his wife. But today that $9 poem is very
famous, and for which he is remembered for. The cause of his death at age 40 is
even not sure, anything from suicide to rabies to heart disease. Once upon a
midnight dreary....
Although widely read and studied today, Henry David Thoreau wrote in
obscurity until after his, he stopped writing upon death of course. With a
particular style he wrote of nature, and about nature from an anarchist of
asceticism, and his On Walden Pond is still a required reading in many literary
courses. His stanzas provided insight and drew brilliant mind pictures, while
one of his books, self published, only 300 of the 1000 copies sold. His final
claim to become one with the earth, living in a cabin owned by Ralph Waldo
Emerson, inspired so much of his writings. It wasn’t until the 1920’s he
caught on, long after death, and lives on today through the International
Thoreau Society.
Although she died over 130 years ago, Emily Dickinson’s poetry is well
remembered. Even a stamp with her on it was issued in 1971, recognizing her
writings after life and death. Thought to be strange, she was a recluse even in
her hometown in Massachusetts, she requested her writings be burned after her
death, and only her sister Livonia through her disobedience had them published
in 1890. Franz Kafka is perhaps the least recognized before death. Only taking
a course on his writings in college was I made aware of him. Although educated
in the law, he found little time to write, so devoted himself to it, and died
early at age 41 from starvation, brought on by not being able to eat due to
tuberculosis. But his writings including The Metamorphosis, and In the Penal
Colony are widely read, studied, and admired today. His unique style of writing
can be morbid to some, but brilliantly insightful, and he wasn’t even published
until after his death by his friend Max Brod. A museum in Prague is named after
him, and even his style of writing, Kafkaesque is used to describe bizarre ideas
and concepts.
But another man, not a writer, has become a source of the most popularly
read books in history. Relatively unknown, and only locally recognized in life,
it is His death and resurrection that we celebrate today. Of course I am
talking about Jesus Christ, a man with only a small following, even though heard
by many. It is only in His life after death that we remember Him, a feat which
makes Him unique above all who claim fame and fortune. If He hadn’t died, He
may only have been remembered as a great teacher, but not the Son of God. His
ability to influence people has led many to eternal life, and even today
continues to have a profound impact on all who meet Him. He is very much alive,
just like He said, and although we have assembled works of others, no man
written about has changed the world so much. No other writings can claim to
have the promises and the proof of God and those promises are still real today.
Men and women are still changed when reading about Him and meeting Him
personally. And it all came true because of the cross, and His empty tomb
after. It is only in His death that we see His full glory, that gaining
immortality comes through Him and no other.
Look around and those you see will probably be the ones at your funeral.
They will remember you after death until they pass, the memories gone long after
anything you did here does. So do something to be remembered for in
life-remember Jesus now while you still can. You may never have a collection of
stories written by or about you, you may never be a best seller. You may live a
life in complete obscurity, maybe lonely and forgotten. But God sees and knows,
and promises and knows all about you. So meet Him at the cross, the place of
death that brings life, and make a difference today. Bear witness of Him and
what He has done in your life, letting the gospel continue on through you. For
like John tells us, if all the books written about Jesus were written, no
library could hold them. So get involved, and become part of the Dewey Decimal
System under Jesus. Today we forget who F. Scott Fitzgerald is, but we still
admire the Great Gatsby, his most famous work. Your works may not be recognized
here on earth, few of Jesus’ were until after His death. What you live is what
you will leave behind. Make your mark today, life is short, eternity is
forever. And only found at the cross. We all face death, that doesn’t mean you
have to die.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com