From James Dean to Heath Ledger

Today another Hollywood star has died. Heath Ledger, 28, was the star of “10 Things I Hate About You”, “A Knight’s Tale”, “Patriot”, “Brokeback Mountain” and the upcoming “Dark Knight” (Batman movie). While watching the evening news of his body being taken out one reporter said that it was hard to understand how a man who could have everything could die so young. At this moment no one knows the exact cause of death. The reports are saying there were pills on the scene and that he has been depressed since the end of his relationship to the mother of his child. Ledger has always been a Hollywood outsider and not involved in the party scene. In the past few months he has been seen dating super models and even Lindsay Lohan. Reports of alcohol and drug abuse are circulating. It amazes me how the body can only be a few hours and so much information can already be out!

It remains to be seen how and why he died or if anyone will ever know. It may have been natural causes, accidential drug overdose, or something else. One reporter already said he was another James Dean. Mel Gibson who costarred with Ledger in “The Patriot” expressed his sorrow and prayers for one who died with so much potential.

I’m still thinking about that phrase about a young man with so much who died so soon. Our culture still seems to equate fame and material wealth with having everything. We see someone with good looks, talent, money, and success and can’t believe they are miserable. I do not know anything about the spiritual conditions of Ledger, Dean, or the other young stars who have died but I do know that those things simply are not a key to joy. The book of Ecclesiastes should serve as a reminder that sometimes “everything is meaningless.” The Teacher in that soul searching Old Testament book reminds us that all the things under the sun can seem empty at times. The ultimate quest all humans long for is meaning and that we know is found only in a relationship with God. And yet this story reminds us that even if Ledger had this relationship that life can be tough and that we as a church need to be there to minister to those who are hurting. Mental illness is a reality that the church must talk about and we need to not allow depression to be an unspoken reality but rather something we can talk about openly. The church does a great job with those who struggle physically but those who suffer mentally often do so in silence. May we as a church repent of such failure and do a better job in the future.

Peace,
Derik