Hopelessly Devoted
By now, we may have discovered and continue to mourn the loss of Olivia Newton John. Many would know her as actress, singer, dancer, and recording artist, to name a few. Yet she was so much more— a strong devoted woman, wife, mother, and champion of the cause of beating cancer for women and men.
Her artistic accomplishments and awards are almost too numerous to count. She may be most well-known for her role as Sandy in the 1978 movie Grease. One of the most iconic songs she performed was “Hopelessly Devoted to You”. So many of us loved that movie and loved that song, yet the title does not fully describe the life and legacy of Olivia Newton John. Was she devoted? Absolutely – but NOT hopelessly. As a matter of fact, her life is a testament to the incredible power of hope – a power that can transform our lives and the lives of others if we take to heart lessons she tried to teach us. While not diminishing her suffering, Olivia Newton John lived a life very hope-fully devoted to love, family, connections, care for others. One of the lessons she can teach us is how to find meaning in suffering and turn it into blessing.
In an interview she gave after her first round of breast cancer, Olivia Newton John said that, as hard as it was to believe, the diagnosis was one of the best things that happened to her. It awakened in her a deeper sense of life for herself and others. Her response was to live life to the fullest.
In another interview with CBS, she recently said, “Denial is really good. It’s really healthy. But it was consuming my day. And after a time, I thought: ‘you know what? I don’t know what my time is, but I need to enjoy my life. So, I’m going to eat a cookie if I want it. And I’m going to have a cup of tea if I want to. And if I want to have a little bit of wine, I’m going to do that because the joy of life and everyday living has to be a part of that healing process as well.’”
She used her fame and wealth to raise awareness – making research possible which resulted in the reality that more and more people survive many forms of cancer with each passing year.
What might be the invitation for us here? Perhaps it is a question to ask ourselves:
How shall we live our lives, especially in the midst of hard times?
Certainly, we need to acknowledge and even lament the pain we experience, but pain doesn’t have the last word. While definitely cliché, however, there is something to the adage: When life hands us lemons, make lemonade! If the lemons are especially bitter, an opportunity exists to make even sweeter lemonade. This may not be easy, but we all have the capacity to surround ourselves with a support network and be a part of that network for others!
First Corinthians 12, v. 26 says:
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it.
If one part is honored, all the parts share its joy!
Go with God, Olivia! Rest in peace.
-Carol and Roger Pisani
