In the last few weeks we lost three iconic figures in their own rights: Andy Rooney, Joe Frazier, and now, Heavy D. All three were at different points in their lives; Rooney was in his 90's, Frazier was in his 70's, and Heavy D was 44. They will all be missed for what they contributed to their field. When someone passes away, though, in addition to the accolades that are heaped upon them, you may hear someone say that "they are gone too soon".
That brings up the age old conversation about a purpose full life. The phrase 'gone too soon' infers that there were things that person in question could yet accomplish or that we hadn't seen the full manifestation of their potential. I heard the phrase used in connection with Frazier and Heavy D but not with Rooney and, of course, that made me think. Frazier "gone too soon"? The man had the distinction with being synonymous with the greatest boxing match in history. He was beloved by millions. He is part of one of the most famous couplets ever: Ali/Frazier. What's more is that he had a great, bountiful life after his boxing career. Up until the recent illness that claimed his life, he was healthy and happy. Did he not fulfill his purpose here? Was it not OK for him to make his exit from this world at this time?
Heavy D was much younger but he had made his mark as well. One of the innovators of Hip Hop, he maintained an image that was wholesome in the face of changing trends in the music. He gave us classic songs and had a few acting roles. He moved up through the executive ranks in the industry and was one of the decision makers. He too was happy and would resurface occasionally to do his old songs. That said, Heav's time had come and gone, in terms of being relevant in the public eye. He too had lived a happy, bountiful life up until his death. Was there something more that we were expecting from this icon? Is there some massive void that his passing (outside of friends and family, of course) has left? I don't mean to be rude, just logical.
Which then brings me to Rooney. This is a man that was in broadcasting his entire adult life. His career was storied and prolific. This generation knows him as the curmudgeon at the end of '60 Minutes' every week. But he earned the right to be that guy sitting behind that amazing desk by putting in all that work decades before. Up until he retired this year, he worked at CBS, although, if you asked him, he didn't consider it work because he enjoyed it. But still, Andy Rooney answered emails, regular mail, researched, and read...a lot, while he was working and finally he decided to step away and retire. In less than a year, he was gone. I can only surmise that he didn't get a lot of time to enjoy his retirement. It then begs the question, did this 90+ year old man "go too soon"? Did he have enough time to enjoy the fruits of his many years of labor? Did his family finally have grandpa all to themselves for enough time?
The phrase always gives me pause. None of us know when our time will come and very few of us KNOW what our true purpose on this earth is. Let's not assume that the recently passed were here for the right amount of time or not. In that vein, also live your life so that when your time comes, you can feel that you were here for JUST the right amount of time! RIP, Rooney, Frazier, and Heavy D.
These are my thoughts...what are yours?
8 comments:
"Gone Too Soon"? When I hear that I think of "Gone too Young"... Heavy is in my age range and in a perfect world you would not think someone would die that young, but they do and it's not our place to ask why...God only knows! Many times when people die young a movement is started ie Foundations in their names,Fundraisers in their names and so on. I have lost 2 friends of mine these last two weeks and both of them where in their mid 40's..one to a heart attack and the other is Heavy-D and we don't know the cause yet. But know all my friends are talking about getting healthy, eating right and going for check-ups.So maybe there passing is not too soon or too young because it might save some other peoples lives.
you hit the nail on the head KB. God only knows. I want people to be thankful for the time that I was here when I pass and not remorseful for what i COULD have been or done.
I think when people say "gone too soon", they really mean for their OWN liking...that WE are not ready to let them go, not necessarily that they haven't achieved their goals or reached their full potential. It's our own selfish way of wishing they were still with us.
My best friend's husband died at the age of 36 - heart attack in his sleep. He was retired from the NFL, having played 10 great years. He met the love of his life in college and they had been together for 15 years and had 2 children by the time he passed. The day after his funeral, she found out she was pregnant with their 3rd child.
So while he accomplished all of his personal and professional goals - we still can't wrap our heads around the fact that a mother had to bury her son, a wife had to say goodbye to her life partner and he has children he won't see grow up (except from heaven) and one child he's never met while on earth. You're right, only God can tell us why He called Kevin home, and we have to have faith that God makes no mistakes. But when you think of someone who was so young, we can only imagine what more he would have done, what it would have been like for him to walk his daughter down the aisle or watch his son graduate from high school...or become a grandparent himself. There seems like there was so much more living to do, like they were just getting started. So gone too soon is just for us because we're not ready. God's timing is perfect though, and sometimes people just live their life fast.
I think Brooke's response says it all. Amen sister.
I agree with you wholeheartedly Brooke! I stopped short of talking about the selfish implications of the statement because I believe it comes from a place of grief and sincerity. But who's to say that Kevin's life wouldn't have taken a DOWNWARD spiral after this. Wouldn't this, in God's infinite wisdom, been the exactly right time for him?
Yes, which is why I don't question it. Who knows what God was sparing Kevin from. He was happy, in a great place with his family and loved God. Lastly, he passed in his sleep next to his wife in their married bed with his children sleeping peacefully in the next room. All was right in his world, we should all be so lucky to pass that way.
Doesn't stop us from missing him, but it makes it easier to accept.
What Brooke said.
hi to all nekkidmaninsuit.blogspot.comers this is my first post and thought i would say hi -
regards speak again soon
garry moore
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