Tim Wildmon

AFA president

July 1998 – With the possible exception of Elvis Presley, no other entertainer captured the hearts of Americans during this century more than did Frank Sinatra. I was vacationing with the family in May when CNN reported the news of Sinatra’s death. Although being a child of the ’70s I could only name a couple of his tunes – New York, New York and I Did It My Way come to mind – it was still kind of sad seeing an American icon pass away. The Italian boy from Hoboken, New Jersey, made it big. He could sing, no doubt about that. Frankly, if you’ll excuse the pun, I had no idea Frank Sinatra had accomplished so much in his 83 years. Albums, movies, this man lived what a lot of people call the ultimate American dream. Fame. Fortune. Millions of records sold. Everybody loved Frank Sinatra.

A few days after his death, the funeral was a major news story. The television cameras captured a Who’s Who from Hollywood, Washington, and NewYork paying their last respects to their friend, the man they called “The Chairman of the Board.” The day after his burial I was reading about the service. It seems Mr. Sinatra’s daughter decided to put three items in his coffin as he was laid to rest in the southern California soil. Things she thought the great entertainer would want to take with him if he could. The items were: a bottle of Jack Daniels, a pack of Camel cigarettes, and 10 dimes. That was it. Some whiskey, a smoke, and some change to call home. I had to read the paragraph twice.

Later that night I was telling Alison about this. She looked at me with surprise and said, “What?”

“That’s what they said,” I responded.

“How sad. You would think they would have put something more important and more meaningful in his coffin.”

“Well, yeah,I guess. But then, from what I’ve read,those things kind of symbolized his lifestyle. Drinking, partying, hanging out with the guys. That was his public persona. But you’re right, kind of depressing, isn’t it?”

“If that’s what your family remembers you for, that’s real depressing.”

That made me think about what I would like placed in my coffin if I should ever die. (According to medical experts I’ve talked to, there is a 70% chance this could happen at some point in my life. That statistic has a 30% margin of error, according to these same medical experts.)

How about my Bible? Yes, I’d say the Scriptures are very important to me, but it might be misleading to put them in the casket as if to say I treated the Bible as one of the three most important items in my life. It would look good. Real spiritual. Would it be honest? Truth is, I need to read and cherish the Bible more.

How about a picture of my family? I love my wife and three children dearly. And I am a pretty good father, if I do say so myself. I think Alison and the kids would agree. So, to put a photograph of my family in with me would be true to what was important in my life.

Now, what else? Perhaps this personal computer I am now writing on since I spend so much time in front of it. But if you included the screen, keyboard, speakers. and the printer you’re talking about a much bigger coffin than I need or am willing to pay for with my life/death insurance monies that I would want Alison and the kids to have. Besides it would probably be real hard to close.

What about an American flag? I love this country very much. In my mind America, even with all her faults, is still the greatest country in the world.

You know, the truth of the matter is we can’t take anything with us when we pass from this world to the next. Anything material, anyway. The Egyptian pharaohs tried to do this, take everything with them. That’s why we have the great pyramids. But you know what? While I appreciate the hard work and building skill of the ancient Egyptians as much as anyone, really, all that work was for nothing. As archeologists have dug into these tombs they have discovered the possessions still there. Perhaps you’ve been to one of traveling exhibitions of these artifacts and seen them for yourself. Although very powerful men, even the pharaohs could not take their riches and treasures with them.

Later in my conversation with Alison, I made an observation. It was something I said without too much thought. Just one of those driving-down-the-road-you-can-say-anything-to-your-wife-and-she’ll-accept-it. Said I, “You know,when you boil it all down, what really matters is: do you believe in Jesus and do you care for others? That seems to be the bottom line to me.”

Alison agreed. (Smart woman, Alison.)

I know that there are a lot of variables and many additional concerns and passions in life for most of us. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, in the final analysis, that about sums up our purpose in life.Jesus was asked in Matthew 22:36: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied to the man, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

You can’t take it with you when you die, is a wise and truthful saying. Isn’t that good? Well, you can thank me for it. I made it up one day while I was driving down the road just letting great thoughts roll off my tongue as Alison listened dutifully – and balanced our checkbook.

She then remarked, “Well, from the looks of this checkbook, that’s not going to be a problem.”

Smart woman, that Alison.

Frank Sinatra will long be remembered for his wonderful, God-given voice. But when he sang I Did It My Way, I couldn’t help but sense a ring of arrogance and pride. I don’t want to live life my way. I’ve tried it. My way is failure. By God’s grace I want to live His Way, the way of joy and contentment here on earth and ultimately eternal life with my Savior. When I face my final curtain, I don’t want to wake up in Sinatra’s New York, New York, but in God’s New Jerusalem, the real “city that doesn’t sleep.”