I’m going to be honest and say I was never very “into” Prince.
I knew only 2 of his songs, and when he became “the artist formerly known as his name“, I wrote him off as being a little to the left of having a full deck. (Yes Virginia, that metaphor is mixed).
Imagine my surprise when one aspect of his life turned me into a fan the day he left this earth.
Among the myriad of articles that began sweeping the Internet, several of them mentioned Prince’s “hidden investments”. And unlike investments people usually want to stay hidden, these were investments that people (including myself) usually can’t wait for others to find out.
Prince was the check book behind several causes that no one around him ever knew. He anonymously brought solar panels into inner city Oakland; and provided computer coding skills to inner city youth. (http://bit.ly/1SNzJ33)
He wanted to give people a leg up without anyone knowing whose leg got them there.
In the days following Prince’s death, friends and business associates extolled not his famed artistry, but immense generosity- sharing stories of help he gave them that no one ever knew.
It is said that he insisted on anonymity because of his religion. We who espouse Christianity usually find ways to edit out translate Scriptures about giving to uplift ourselves.
Shocking that in the era of selfies, home videos and postings that tell us every single thing we don’t want to know, this famous artist was quietly giving away money with the condition that no one would ever know.
Until he left.
I don’t know about you, but that is a piece of his life that pokes into mine. And while it might be unusual to follow a blog about Focus on the Family with a piece about Prince, I just felt moved to say something about it.
Because in spite of his imperfections, unwritten will debacle, and mysterious drug prescriptions that may have been associated with his death, Prince left us with one quiet message that speaks more to me than all the talent he was blessed with.
And something tells me the crowns we have and don’t wear will be the ones that ultimately shine brightest of all.
This link proves it. (http://bit.ly/1SUBvlZ)
Thank you for stating so eloquently what I felt about Prince, even before his generosity was revealed to the public. Many of my friends, and most definitely my family except for my daughter, thought I was crazy. We are told not to judge, so I did not judge Price. I appreciated him as a gifted musician, song-writer and entertainer. I am thankful that more has been revealed about Prince, the man.
I didn’t know that about Prince. Thanks for sharing
Thank you. So true. So simple, yet so profound. Many blessings.
always enjoy your blogs Laurie, but
have to disagree with you on this one.
Please, can you help me understand how you could state yourself a “fan” of his for this unproven supposed good he did behind the scenes, in balance with the moral carnage he did his whole life?
Below is my impression of the real main emphasis of how he impacted others…especially influence-able young girls with his music phrasing and massively evil lifestyle.
Actually liked a little of his music…some people liked a lot of it.
But despite his Jehovahs Witness Jive….what he really did was constantly womanize, drug, and ego-trip his whole life ….in a massive and evangelistic way.
So to me …that is what he really lived for. Anything else he did good paled in comparison.
There are a couple of bible verses that say that the Prince of this world masquerades as an angel of light…looking like he is beautiful and charming…but that the end of it all is eternal death.
That evil being is called the Prince of Darkness.
-hope he had a second in that elevator to hit the “Up button”….and repent of his sins.
Jesus says He will accept anyone who genuinely regrets and trusts that Jesus died instead of them…so they really could live eternally….changed to be like the Real Love that Jesus is….not the false “get you in bed” bs that Prince put out.
Sorry if this is not welcome, but I don’t hear anywhere online where the truth about him is being told.
Sorry to say that he was correctly named for what his life stood for…..”prince”…with a small p, because he never changed the large evil that he just continued, and continued in, until the end of his life.
And we all, as people of faith, -are left to deal with the emotional carnage he left in the lives of the
millions which his “ungodly music words” and ideas fostered.
Laurie,
C.S. Lewis said..essentially..The best place to hide a lie, -is behind a partial truth
I would appreciate it if you would consider that the supposed partial truth that Prince may have done a few genuine good things, does not in any way compare to the massive lies of darkness he spread to millions of lives.
Yeah, …we all have faults….hope we learn to let God change us….but not aggrandize this true apostle of womanizing and wanton-immorality.
Thanks for taking the time,
Steve
Hey Steve,
thanks for your thoughts- I actually was trying to be clear that I was a fan of what he did in giving secretly, not of everything he lived for or did. Sounds like you have some strong feelings about him, and I mentioned at the end that there were many things about him I wasn’t necessarily affirming. But giving in secret is a trait to be admired, since so many of us (including myself) feel compelled to let people know. I guess we are all a mixed bag of good and bad, and I’m thankful for God’s grace. Blessings-
Hi Luarie,
Thanks for making some of those things clearer. -Sorry I missed your intent.
Because of that, would you mind just editing my comments out on this subject?
I don’t think, upon further reflection, that this is the best media to express my concerns.
May I just email you my info, for you to determine yourself in your own time?(I have your other email address)
Thanks for your courteous reply,
Steve