Turtle's Gift Matt's Story Death Be Not Proud

Death Be Not Proud

The Old Testament reading at Mass tomorrow is from the prophet Ezekiel. If you happen to know the song “Dem Bones”, then you know the passage. It’s a tale about how God quite literally reconstitutes living, breathing beings from a field of dry bones. It’s a favorite tale of mine because it demonstrates yet again God’s dominion over death.

As I reread the passage from Ezekiel I recalled a poem I encountered back in college: Death Be Not Proud, authored by the English poet John Donne way back in 1633. As I Googled the poem I came upon a different reference to that same title. It’s a book written by an American author named John Gunther published in 1949. It’s subject: a memoir of his 17 year old son who had recently passed from a brain tumor – a glioblastoma, the same type as Matt’s. Wow. Something tells me this is a book I need to take a look at. I’ll let you know how it goes…

Thanks Matt.