The Last Lecture vs. The Last Supper
By Marcy Stenstrom
I just read “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch, the middle-aged information Technology professor who died of pancreatic cancer but did some very uncommon things after his terminal diagnosis. Although his book was amusing at times, I found this national bestseller to be narcissistic and self-serving. Pausch really wrote this memoir for his children. He wanted to continue to be a father in words and memories. Since he was a college professor he called this his “Last Lecture” as many retiring professors do.
Before his death, he presented a lecture that encapsulated his nuggets of wisdom for us all. But he misguidedly takes all the credit. I couldn’t help but think while reading “The Last Lecture” that this idea is a parallel of another person’s ultimate last lecture. His was called the Last Supper and the dying man was Jesus.
I agree with the dying man’s desire to leave his identity for his children. I decided to do something similar when my husband and I took a missionary trip to Nicaragua for a week and left our two toddler girls with grandma and grandpa. In the unfortunate case that we would die, I sat down and wrote a letter to them, a last will and testament of my life and my wish for them as young girls as they grow into women. When I thought about what I wanted for them and who I wanted them to become, it all centered on God and our Catholic faith. I want them to have a relationship with God and a prayer life for Christ. Without this key, I believe that everything that they would do or become is meaningless if not done in Christ’s name.
In “The Last Lecture”, Pausch decided to share his life’s wisdom that simplistically rests in the golden rule, do unto others… and chooses to omit religion so that he could “talk about universal principles that apply to all faiths.” (Pausch, p.186) He talks about relationships with people and briefly touches on the support he received from church members and his pastor. But I was disappointed that even when faced with death, he was afraid to speak the truth, to say the name of Jesus so as not to offend. Jesus has a reply to this kind of thinking. He said something like “if you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father”. I believe that this social fear of inclusion reveals a lot about the character and humility of a person (or lack thereof).
Pausch admits he has an ego and thinks highly of himself and his accomplishments. But his enlightenment is not something new or invented. In his book, the advice titled “All You Have Is What You Bring With You” (Pausch, p.159) and “Tell the Truth” (Pausch, p.163) exemplify some of the pay-it-forward philosophy he lived. These ideals are all good and true but lack the humility and praise that belongs to God.
Jesus also knew that he was going to die and left us a great legacy through His “Last Supper”. When He said, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this is remembrance of me,” (Luke 22:19) He literally gave us Himself and gave us instructions along the way on how to live a better life. He is the original best seller on self help topics. So for life answers, therapy, and an inspiring story of a dying man’s legacy to His children, read about Jesus. He did it first and He did it for you.
Pausch, Randy: “The Last Lecture”, Hyperion 2008, New York, USA