Thus passes the glory of the world

Thus passes the glory of the world March 4, 2016

Aubrey McClendon, founder of Chesapeake Energy, was one of Oklahoma City’s most prominent citizens.  So it was a juicy story when a federal grand jury indicted him for conspiring with another oil company to not bid against each other on oil leases.  So on Wednesday the lead, front-page, top-of-the-fold story in the Daily Oklahoman was about McClendon’s indictment and alleged misdeeds.

McClendon forcefully denied that he had done anything wrong, but the embarrassment must have been too much for him.  Later that day, he drove his SUV at high speed into a bridge abutment in an apparent suicide.

The very next day after the negative story the whole issue of the newspaper was full of his praises.  Thursday’s edition  led with the lead, front-page, top-of-the-fold headline “Energy Leader Leaves Behind Legacy.”  The lead editorial was “McClendon’s Contributions Changed City for the Better.”  

Not only that, nearly every section of the newspaper had big stories praising McClendon.  BUSINESS:  How McClendon helped bring the nation’s oil and natural gas industry back to life.  His impact on Oklahoma City’s economy.  LOCAL: McClendon’s role in Oklahoma City’s renaissance, with his initiatives in developing the river front, his promotion of good architecture in the city, and his civic boosterism.  SPORTS:  He was largely responsible for bringing the Thunder, a spectacularly successful NBA franchise and the state’s first major league pro team of which he is one of the owners, to Oklahoma City.  RESTAURANTS:  He invested in local restaurants and did much to encourage the flowering of fine dining in the city.  PHILANTHROPY:  He was a major patron of local arts groups and generously gave to a whole range of other philanthropic projects.

Here is a man who had great wealth, notable accomplishments, the respect and gratitude of his community, and every kind of success.  And yet, in a moment, he felt his life was not worth living.

Talk about “civic righteousness.”  He had a lifetime of good works to his community, and yet one bad work brought it all to nothing.

And see the fickleness of his acclaim.  The world honors him, then dishonors him, then honors him again–but after he is dead, due to the dishonor.

I have seen nothing about his church involvement.  But then again the media seldom considers that important.  I hope he had a saving faith in Christ, despite it all.

But his story reads like a medieval tragedy, a “wheel of fortune” tale in which Lady Fortune takes someone to the top and then to the bottom.  The point of which is to show that worldly success is ultimately insubstantial and that we can only depend on Christ.  Those stories often dramatized the Latin motto:

Sic Transit Gloria Mundi.  

Thus passes the glory of the world.

 

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