听 听 听 听 听 听 Once in a while a man or woman comes along who teaches us about ourselves. David Bowie was just famous enough to strike our imaginations in his passing, if not with his music. His last album Blackstar, described as his parting gift to his fans, shared much about his approach to death.
听
Look up here, I'm in heaven
I've got scars that can't be seen鈥↖'ve got drama鈥–an't be stolen鈥‥verybody knows me now听
Oh, I'll be free
Just like that bluebird鈥∣h, I'll be free鈥�Bowie echoes in his song 鈥淟azarus鈥�.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 My first thoughts after hearing of Bowie鈥檚 death was that here was an artist who used the gifts and talents the Lord gave him. He lived life with zest, made his mark and left a legacy of iconic proportions.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Bowie鈥檚 philanthropy is well known. He had his ten favourite charities including 鈥淪ave the Children鈥�. His list of causes included Abuse, Aids and HIV, Disaster Relief, Human rights, Peace, and Women. His involvement with Amnesty International and the Red Cross spring to mind.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淒avid Bowie has left a legacy of inspiration, and without a doubt made the world a better place鈥� said an on-line article.
听听听听听听听听听听听 I must confess that through the five decades of his music few titles spring to my mind. 鈥淟et鈥檚 Dance鈥� 1983 and 鈥淒ancing in the Street鈥� (also done by Martha and the Vandellas) come to mind more readily. Not having been a Bowie fan I did not mark his journey until I noticed how it ended.
听听听听听听听听听听听 In 鈥淭he Man Who Sold the Moon鈥�, 1997, Bowie reflects a universal spiritual search when he says, 鈥淭hat song for me always exemplified kind of how you feel when you鈥檙e young, when you know there鈥檚 a piece of yourself that you haven鈥檛 really put together yet. You have this searching, this great need to find out who you really are.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淭hrough all his alter ego鈥檚, David Bowie was one singular thing 鈥� a true Artist,鈥� says Keep A Child Alive founder听. 鈥淗e graciously performed 3 songs at Keep a Child Alive鈥檚 Black Ball in 2006 and I have never seen an audience so enraptured. Thank you for all the inspiration! Especially the message to all of us to be completely who you are!鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 I didn鈥檛 set out to write a David Bowie tribute. I wanted to use his life as an example of how we can be true to God鈥檚 call in us to use our gifts; to find out who we really are, and to live our lives with the enthusiasm becoming our privileged position as Christians.
听听听听听听听听听听听 In a sense my research material took over the message Bowie was trying to leave with his fans as he privately battled cancer and prepared to meet his God. There is a line in 鈥淪tarman鈥� lyrics:
听
鈥淭here's a starman waiting in the sky鈥℉e'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
Cause he knows it's all worthwhile.鈥�
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 May you be free as that blue bird!
