Only The Good Die Young

As I was reading about the death of Peter Jennings, the long time news anchor man on ABC, I couldn't help and ponder about the comment that Barbara Walters made. She said, “He just died much too young.” Peter Jennings was 67. Was this young? It's all relative I guess. If you're over 67 you would consider it young but if you are in your 20's you might not. Based on today's life expectancy charts, he fell in the category of going before his time. I was also amazed on how little time it took for the cancer to take his life. He told his viewers back in April that he had lung cancer and 4 months later he dies. I guess the Lord spared him much suffering.

When I read Barbara Walter's comment, I immediately thought of the song from Dion from years past entitled, Abraham, Martin and John. In the song he mentions four people, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy and the lyrics that he repeats at the end of each stanza is, But it seems the good they die young.

Abraham died when he was 56, Martin when he was 39, JFK when he was 46 and Robert Kennedy at 43. These men did a lot of good and would have probably continued to do so but as the song say, it seems the good die young. I often thought of why good people are taken away so young and why we are left to bear with all the pains in asses of the world who seem to go on forever. The ones you would think should go first seem to outlast us all. Sometimes I think God has a distorted sense of humor. I picture him sitting on his throne looking down much like a king would presiding over a court filled with jesters. But I know that God is all loving and has a purpose for everyone's life. I just haven't figured it out and I might never do so. Hey, I better be quiet, because I might end up being one of those pain in the butt people.

I did a quick research and found many noted people who died at a much younger age than the ones above.

• Jesus died when he was 32/33 years of age.
• Vincent Van Gogh shot himself when he was 39
• Princes Diana was 38 when she died in an auto accident
• John Keats, the poet, died when he was 25 from tuberculosis
• Anne Frank died when she was 15
• Joan of Arc was burned at the stake when she was 19

These are also some of the most famous. What about all the good people that we know very little about. How many were lost on 9/11? How many were lost in the Tsunami? There's a lot of potential for good left behind each and every day.

I know you could probably tell me of a lot of good people who lived a full life. I realize it but I can't help but focus on the good people that are taken away much before their time. It's like my tomato growing escapades this year. Just as the tomatoes are starting to ripen some critter (I suspect a pesky and very hungry squirrel) beats me to the punch. Forgive me for today being Monday, I'm seeing the glass as half empty instead of half full.

Billy Joel's song has a different perspective on it:

They say there's a heaven for those who will wait

Some say it's better but I say it ain't

I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints

Sinners are much more fun...

And only the good die young

Well if you read the Bible, you'll see that Jesus came to be with the sinners and to help them see and find the way. One of the best examples of a fun loving sinner who converted is the story of Saul of Tarsus, later known as St. Paul. It took him awhile but he came to the realization that sinners were not much fun.