AFTER EASTER
Philip Clinton pastor of the Janesville United Methodist Church of Janesville, Iowa, sent in the following story — which I plan to use sometime after Easter, maybe just before Pentecost. He heard it from Dr. Harrell Beck of the Boston University School of Theology. The story is told of the great composer, Gicomo Puccini, whose operas number among the world’s favorites — Tosca, La Boheme, Madame Butterfly. Even after he was stricken with cancer in 1922 Puccini was determined to write a final opera, Turandot, which some folks consider his best. Fighting the awful cancer, Puccini was implored by his students to rest, to save his strength. But, he persisted, remarking at one point, “If I do not finish my music, my students will finish it.” In 1924 Puccini was taken to Brussels to be operated on. He died there two days after his surgery. His students did finish Turandot and in 1926 the gala premiere was to be held in the…
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