Our days may come to seventy years…

According to the United States Government – the Centers for Disease Control – the average lifespan for an adult born in America in 1948 is 68.2. That opening quote was from Moses – who headed the Jewish community for 40 years, nearly 4000 years ago – who was inspired by God when he said, “I don’t know what you’ve got on your bucket list, but you’d better get it wrapped up by your 70th birthday. Anything beyond that is a bonus…” (Shank paraphrase of Psalm 90).

Larry Harvey made it to 70; he died last week. He got just what Moses – speaking for God then wrote the Psalm that was later included in the Scriptures – said was likely. How did he use his time?

On the surface, the accolades by friends and family seem upbeat: a visionary, a lover of words and books, a mentor and instigator who challenged others to look at the world in new ways. May my loved ones speak similar words about me someday…

The organizational world remembers Mr. Harvey on a different plane. Founder of a movement, the momentum of his brainchild would ultimately incorporate as a not-for-profit entity in 2013 that reports 70 employees and an annual budget of  $30 million. Their principle effort is a week-long event that draws 70,000 participants each year, who pay $425-$1,200 to “get in the door” and experience Burning Man in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert in August.

The Associated Press describes Burning Man as “an esoteric mix of pagan fire ritual and sci-fi Dada circus where some paint their bodies, bang drums, dance naked and wear costumes that would draw stares at a Mardi Gras parade.” Harvey died as President of its board and “Chief Philosophic Officer.”

Harvey’s longtime friend Stuart Mangrum posted on the Burning Man website that Larry did not believe in “any sort of existence after death.” What does he believe now?

Jesus told a fascinating story about a rich man whose accomplishments had allowed him unusual success. A homeless beggar named Lazarus was known to hang-out at the rich man’s security gate, and he sorted through the scraps that were in the rich man’s trash cans for the food to stay alive. Stray dogs would come and lick the sores that covered his body. What a contrast, between the well-to-do and the what-did-he-do extremes…

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’” (Luke 12)

Burning Man made Larry Harvey famous. Larry Harvey lived his earthly life dismissing the existence of God and the choice to an afterlife with or without Him. What does he believe today?

About 10 days ago, Larry Harvey became the Burning Man. In a place more extreme than the Nevada desert in August, he now believes in God and an afterlife without Him. The sad reality: his belief came too late to do him any good.

Rich now, or rich later? There’s no answer to be found at Burning Man. Ask Lazarus…