A prize in a box of Cracker Jacks…

…with God’s hand reaching down to pick me up.

Those are the words used by Contemporary Christian (rock) music pioneer, Larry Norman, used in his farewell message to the world to describe how the dying process felt for him.

I just read over at the Shlog that Larry passed away this weekend. Shaun linked over to Larry’s website where I read one of the most brave and gracious goodbye letters I’ve ever read. I think if I ever know that I’m on my way out, I’d want to write a letter something like this…

I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God’s hand reaching down to pick me up. I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home.

My brother Charles is right, I won’t be here much longer. I can’t do anything about it. My heart is too weak. I want to say goodbye to everyone. In the past you have generously supported me with prayer and finance and we will probably still need financial help.

My plan is to be buried in a simple pine box with some flowers inside. But still it will be costly because of funeral arrangement, transportation to the gravesite, entombment, coordination, legal papers etc. However money is not really what I need, I want to say I love you.

I’d like to push back the darkness with my bravest effort. There will be a funeral posted here on the website, in case some of you want to attend. We are not sure of the date when I will die. Goodbye, farewell, we will meet again.

Goodbye, farewell, we’ll meet again
Somewhere beyond the sky.
I pray that you will stay with God
Goodbye, my friends, goodbye.

Larry

Larry was a controversial character in his day. He went against the grain and had a tendency to stir the pot a bit. The result was the formation of an entirely new genre of music that has moved millions through the years.

Some of the most influential people in history were seen as complicated. Others spoke ill of them behind their back (and sometimes to their face) when they would try to push against the status quo.

Shaun lays it on the line here with some hard questions…

It’ll be interesting to see how we react to Larry’s death. Will we gush accolades on our radio stations that didn’t play him? Will labels that wouldn’t sign him (or his kind) now make tribute CDs? Will music lovers who eschew singer-songwriters with a pointy finger suddenly revere him?

It gets complicated. You see, people in the industry don’t always speak highly of Larry Norman. He allegedly didn’t work well with others. Nor do they always speak well of Keith Green. He was allegedly self-righteous and arrogant. Or how about Rich Mullins? Allegedly a foul-mouthed drunk.

What would they…No, what would we do after [King] David’s death? How would we react after hearing the man after God’s own heart died in bed with a young beautiful virgin? How would we respond to the passing of a righteous man who passed out naked in his tent? Or the Rock who talked like the devil? Or Israel who once duked it out with God? Or the apostle who called our best nothing but “s—?”

Some will always think of Larry as a dirty mean hippie. Some will bronze him in their memory as a perfected hero. To me he’s just another busted beautiful human…with better hair than most.

Amen.

More on Larry Norman:
Huffington Post
Entertainment Weekly
Lake Neuron
CMSpin
CCM Magazine