Farrah and the feeting glitter of fame

I originally wrote this blog a little while ago, but for some reason it was never published. It may be a little out of date in some ways, but I thought that I'd publish it anyway!

The death on 25 June of pop icon Michael Jackson was headline news for several days. Even now, conjecture over the events and circumstances surrounding his death rumble on. It was not until a few days later that I learned that another person who had experienced a level of fame had died on the same day as Jackson, namely Farrah Fawcett. A few days ago my brother made the point that Farrah Fawcett had seemed to be a much more significant part of his youth than Michael Jackson - a viewpoint I would certainly agree with!

She is probably best known for her appearance in the popular TV series Charlie's Angels which began in 1976. She was a beautiful lady with a gorgeous smile, and became a pin-up for males the world over! Her acting career post Charlie's Angels never managed to reach the same heights, and I guess that for many of her former fans and admirers, she became a forgotten lady. Certainly her fame and profile gradually diminished over the years.

Around 3 years ago she learned that she had contracted cancer, a disease which eventually claimed her life. The images above show Farrah both at the height of her fame and beauty, and more recently when she was showing the effects of age and illness. It is a poignant reminder that external beauty is temporary. What really matters is beauty of character.

And her death is another reminder of the fragile nature of human life. Fame comes and fame goes. Earthly life doesn't last forever. Yet in God there is hope beyond this earthly life. The writer of Psalm 103 makes the point when he writes, "The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he understands how weak we are; he knows we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone – as though we had never been here. But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children's children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!" The reason Jesus came into our world was that through faith in him we might have the assurance of his living presence with us now and into eternity.