A 10th-Grade Dropout Makes Good

“Nothing breaks up homes, country and nations like somebody publishing their memoirs.” – Will Rogers

This is the last in a six-part series of devotional messages based on quotes by Will Rogers, one of America’s greatest humorists. In fact, most historians and literary experts would probably rank ol’ Will right alongside Mark Twain as the two most influential political satirists in our nation’s history.

Not too shabby for a feller who attended school in the Indian Territory before Oklahoma was a state and dropped out after 10th grade, saying he was more interested in cowboys and horses than book learning.

Despite his poor grammar, the New York Times syndicated Will’s weekly newspaper column, “Will Rogers Says”, and its circulation grew to an estimated 40 million avid readers. The Saturday Evening Post also published Will’s homespun literary works, and he was constantly churning out books filled with wisecracks and funny stories that were scooped up as quickly as he could write them.

True to his word, however, Will refrained from writing his memoirs, perhaps because he died prematurely in a plane crash in 1935 along with aviator Wiley Post. Will was just 55 years old and at the height of his popularity when their plane went down near Point Barrow, Alaska.

Will Rogers’ life and legacy teaches us several very important lessons. First, don’t take yourself too seriously. Second, follow your God-given passion. Third, never lose your sense of humor. Fourth, live life to its fullest. And fifth, always be ready to meet your Maker.

Starting tomorrow, we’ll take a look at what some other famous people thought about life… and death.

“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14 (NIV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President