Lex Woodbury 2911 Hamilton Blvd. #265 Sioux City, IA 51104 (712) 490-3626 lexwoodbury@hotmail.

com

750 words

Easy to Praise Famous Men An Adaptation of Sirach 44:1-15 by Lex Woodbury

Context

Knowing he was in his last days, my Dad, who never once acknowledged anything good about me on my own, failure as I was to fulfill his fantasy of corporate success, hobbled across the living room and told me, Son, youre a writer; I want you to write my eulogy. I agreed, partly because, as eldest son, it was my job; and partly because I felt suddenly flattered and affirmed, like maybe he did have a clue about me after all. And maybe even liked me, or respected me, though he had never said it straight out. And that hurt in its own way, even as much as his current request filled up the wounded place and made things somehow better. It was a tough job to write a eulogy for such a man. I started by journaling. First, out came the anger for all the ways I felt he had failed me. Then the glossy, greeting card stuff

Easy to Praise Famous Men

about all the sacrifices he had made for my education, first person as I was, ever, in our family to go to college. Then came the mirror. Maybe I never told him I liked him! Maybe my fantasies for his competence at emotional literacy were just as dehumanizing to him as his dreams for my competence in business were to me! Some time in this healthy void, I came upon Sirach 44:1-15, often known as the Let Us Now Praise Famous Men passage. Looking at it carefully for the first time, I began to get a handle on what it might be saying, at that time, to me. So, I translated it into my own terms, and it became the eulogy I delivered for my Dad. I offer it now to men of all places and stations.

Passage

Its easy to praise famous men, The heroes in their generations. The Creator appointed them to great glory. There were kings, who got famous for their victories in battle; Cabinet members and consultants, who made good calls. There were those who made predictions based on culture and trends, And gurus who spoke with insight and enlightenment. There were musicians and writers, rich men in big houses. All these were honored in their own time, And they were famous.

Easy to Praise Famous Men

What about the little men, Of whom there is no notice? They have perished as if they never existed; And their children with them. But they were Godly men, whose wealth remains with us, Because what they did was teach their children The Ways. And their children are teaching us today. The Children of The Ways will go on forever; They will never be blotted out. Their course is done, But their victory lives on, generation after generation. Thats why the Assembly declares their wisdom, And the Congregation sings their praise.

Easy to Praise Famous Men

Apocrypha: Sirach Chapter 44

1 Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us. 2 The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning. 3 Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies: 4 Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent are their instructions: 5 Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing: 6 Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations: 7 All these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times. 8 There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported. 9 And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them. 10 But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten. 11 With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant. 12 Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes. 13 Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out. 14 Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore. 15 The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will shew forth their praise.

From: http://sacred-texts.com/bib/apo/sir044.htm