Goodbye, Dolly, Et al.
Spoiler alert: pensive post ahead.
I was at my (admin) job when I heard the news about Dolly Parton’s passing. Given some of the rumors I had been hearing about her failing health, I wasn’t terribly surprised, but I was terribly saddened. I spent part of the afternoon listening to the 1974 version of “I Will Always Love You” and almost lost it there in the office.
Growing up I’ve always known “of” Dolly, but it wasn’t until I watched her movie Coat of Many Colors that I really had a true sense of who she is and where she came from. In recent years we have made a bit of a tradition traveling to Dolly’s childhood stomping grounds of Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge, TN, including multiple trips to her theme park, Dollywood. Her influence on and investment in the area is plainly felt, especially in the Pigeon Forge area.
But Dolly’s death was actually the fourth death I had heard about in the last few days. The first, a young (25?!) husband and father killed in a car accident, leaving behind a pregnant wife and young child. The second, a ninety-something foreign missionary my family had supported for years, who died peacefully of old age having shared the Gospel internationally up until recent years. The last, my childhood dentist! (I was a weird child and actually enjoyed going to the dentist).
Their passing is a stark reminder that:
death comes for us all and
our days are numbered (intentionally numbered by our Creator).
As I ponder their deaths, the word that keeps coming to mind is legacy. I suppose it’s not something many people think about until they are up there in years, and I certainly don’t think the daily motivation of each of these individuals is what will people remember me for.
But they left a legacy just the same. Aside from her talent and big…personality, Dolly was known for her efforts to help people. That young father died while supporting his family. My dentist helped children and adults alike have beautiful smiles. And that missionary helped share about the One who is our daily help.
So that poses the question - what do I want to be known for? What do YOU want to be known for? Let me know in the comments!