REFLECTIONS UPON "DYING DESTITUTE"
On this Christmas morning, 2014, having just read of Joseph Bologne de Chevalier of Saint-George
s' virtuosity as a violinist, unrivaled mastery as a swordsman, and adept commander and equestrian, in France in the Eighteenth century, although born a mulatto, I wondered if it were so awfully bad if he also 'died destitute' and not rich, as the account claims?
After reading of Bologne of France, I then read of Jupiter Hammond, of Long Island, New York, the first published poet of African descent in America, who was a slave his whole life, yet whose "Penitential Cries" paean to Jesus Christ survives his 1799 destitute death, for centuries. I again wondered if dying destitute is such a bad thing, given one's life's works, that are favorably recalled?
Finally, when I reflected upon our Savior Jesus Christ, who was born destitute in a barn and placed in a manger or crib for a bed, from which livestock were fed; who also died so destitute that he was buried in the borrowed tomb of Arimathea, a rich follower; from which tomb he rose, resurrected, on the third day; I again wondered not only if dying destitute was so bad, but if living destitute, like Jesus Christ was so bad as well?
I am persuaded, therefore, from the foregoing accounts, of Joseph Bologne, Jupiter Hammond, and of Jesus Christ, that neither dying destitute, nor living destitute, is so bad, when anyone has led a rich, memorable, fulfilling life, like these lives, which transcend the veils of time and space, to the glory of God!
On this Christmas morning, 2014, having just read of Joseph Bologne de Chevalier of Saint-George
s' virtuosity as a violinist, unrivaled mastery as a swordsman, and adept commander and equestrian, in France in the Eighteenth century, although born a mulatto, I wondered if it were so awfully bad if he also 'died destitute' and not rich, as the account claims?
After reading of Bologne of France, I then read of Jupiter Hammond, of Long Island, New York, the first published poet of African descent in America, who was a slave his whole life, yet whose "Penitential Cries" paean to Jesus Christ survives his 1799 destitute death, for centuries. I again wondered if dying destitute is such a bad thing, given one's life's works, that are favorably recalled?
Finally, when I reflected upon our Savior Jesus Christ, who was born destitute in a barn and placed in a manger or crib for a bed, from which livestock were fed; who also died so destitute that he was buried in the borrowed tomb of Arimathea, a rich follower; from which tomb he rose, resurrected, on the third day; I again wondered not only if dying destitute was so bad, but if living destitute, like Jesus Christ was so bad as well?
I am persuaded, therefore, from the foregoing accounts, of Joseph Bologne, Jupiter Hammond, and of Jesus Christ, that neither dying destitute, nor living destitute, is so bad, when anyone has led a rich, memorable, fulfilling life, like these lives, which transcend the veils of time and space, to the glory of God!
