Today marks 20 years since the death of Rob Lacey – the performer, author of the word on the street, and all around great guy. I mark the occasion sharing the article I wrote after his death in the then Christian publishing trade magazine, Christian Marketplace:
I’ll always remember May Day, not for ribbons and maypoles but because it’s the day that Rob Lacey died following his ten-year off-and-on battle with cancer. I’m joined by people all over the world who are mourning the earthly loss of this amazing performing artist and author who was a deeply loved husband, father, son, brother and friend.
I first met Rob in 1999 when I had just started at HarperCollins and he came seeking a publisher for his idea related to Romans in a cockney slang. That didn’t sound like a winner, but after discussion we came to the idea of Rob ‘translating’ the best bits of the Bible into the language of the street. And so the street bible, which was later named the word on the street, was born. Or at least it would have been if Rob had traveled the usual publishing road.
Just as we commissioned Rob to write the book in March 2000 came the dreaded diagnosis of a recurrence of cancer (he had been treated for cancer of the bladder in 1996 and had been given the all clear). Even with the C word hanging over him, he threw himself into the monumental task, starting with Job for inspiration. For the next sixteen months he wrote while battling the horrible disease, enduring radiotherapy and chemotherapy. But in December 2001 the doctors told Rob’s family that they had better say their goodbyes.
Our God is full of surprises, and over the next year and a half he brought Rob back from the brink of death and cleared his body of cancer. We rejoiced and celebrated the amazing news. Rob was healed! Alleluia! The medics were stunned, even calling it a miracle. One who had nearly died had been brought back to life. His wife would have a husband; his son would have a father; and the world would have an amazing communicator to tell of God’s love and grace.
Rob went on to finish the word on the street, which was published by Zondervan just in time for Spring Harvest 2003. Following hisperformances there it was an instant hit. People wrote in saying that it was ‘out of this world’, ‘awesome’ and ‘fantastic’. The Bible was coming alive for those who had read it too much and for those who had never encountered it. To God be the glory.
Fast forward to late 2005. My job with Zondervan had just been eliminated, but the upside was that I now had the time to edit Rob’s new book The Liberator, a fantastic harmony of Matthew, Mark and Luke in his street language. And then the joyous news that Rob and Sandra were expecting their second child – wow and hooray! But then Rob’s email with the gut-wrenching news that the cancer was back. We all were shattered. Oh Lord, why?
For anyone in our business, and especially for me as his editor, Rob was a dream author. Creative, funny – and his books sold by the boatload. Even when he was frustrated he was still gracious. He was always funny, and I would hoot with laughter during our phone calls, whether we were discussing swear words, his latest show, or the phrasing of Jesus’ commands. We were both chuffed to be paid to write and edit the Bible – how cool is that?
But of course Rob was so much more than an author, what some might think as a commodity who puts together a product to be packaged, marketed and sold. He was a flesh-and-blood human being who loved his family and friends, who followed the Creator as he brought forth words of life and grace into the lives of so many.
So as we think about the life of Rob Lacey, perhaps we can take a minute to remember the flesh-and-blood people behind the books, music and films that we create, market and sell. Who are they? What sweat, blood and tears goes into the making of their projects? And as we think about the fragility of life, maybe we can take a moment to value the people we work with and those whom we love.
Rob, in your words, halle-blinkin’-lujah anyway. We miss you desperately. We ache for and with Sandra and your children. We’re down here in a world of cancers and decay, but you have a new body that will never wear out. No doubt you are using it relentlessly to entertain Jesus and the angels. How we wish we could be watching that heavenly performance. You’re living out Psalm 30:11:
You turned my tears to cheers,
My moping, through coping and on into dancing.
You made me take off my funeral gear,
And suddenly vibrant colours appear.
(the word on the street)
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