Legacy

I volunteer a lot at my church, and I have done audio and visual for a fair number of weddings and funerals over the past few years. I much prefer weddings, but each are a celebration of life in their own way. I recently worked the funeral/celebration of life for Dan, who passed away from cancer. I didn’t know him  too well, but I was struck by the stories from my Pastor, and from Dan’s family and friends that Dan lived! He Left a legacy.

Also, today as part of his Father’s Day message my Pastor quoted from Proverbs 17:6. (NASB)

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,

and the glory of children is their fathers. ^[1]

I like the NLT translation myself.

Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged;

parents are the pride of their children. ^[2]

Either way the verse also speaks to legacy.

Later this week my young, extremely tall friend Gabriel Franklin is marrying the most amazing Amelia Graves (his words).  They will be embarking on an amazing journey; in reality, they are already on it. Their united legacy starts Friday. His parents have raised an excellent legacy. (I am sure hers have too, I don’t know them)

As Willie Nelson sang “You were always on my mind” At this stage of my life, legacy is always on my mind.  I want to leave a good legacy. However, I am single and have no kids so the normal way to leave a legacy is not an option.  Also, contrary to popular opinion, I do not want my work to be my legacy. I do not intend to only be remembered for the hours I work.

I posted the Edgar Albert Guest poem Tomorrow, back in February, 2018 retrospectiveI keep this poem where I can read it and the end is the thing.

But the fact is he died and he faded from view,

And all that he left here when living was through

Was a mountain of things he intended to do

Tomorrow.

I don’t like this ending and I don’t want this ending.  I need to figure out what Legacy means to me. I also need to remember that the legacy that I leave may never be known to me in this life. We only seem to talk about a person’s legacy when they are dead.

Like usual I have had a bunch of movie quotes running through my head while I write.

Get Busy Living or get busy dying - Andy Dufresne, Shawshank Redemption also Ellis Boy "Red" Redding in a later scene. As an aside can I have Morgan Freeman read a voiceover for my life it would be epic. I could listen to Morgan freeman read recipes!

And while Cinderella and her prince did live happily ever after, the point, gentlemen, is that they lived. – Voiceover, EverAfter.

I don’t feel like I started well, I want to finish well. – Adam Mitchell Courageous

Now I need to get busy living and finish well. Finishing well starts with following the path Jesus Christ sets before me. He is the epitome of finishing well.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.^[3]

---

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Pr 17:6). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

^[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Pr 17:6). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

^[3] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Heb 12:2). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

2018 Retrospective

It’s fair to say 2018 was a trying year. I wanted to post this blog entry before 2018 faded too far into the rear-view mirror, however I took a vacation last month. I spent 8 days traveling to and from Cocoa Beach Fl. To attend and present at Prototype Rails. With stops in Roanoke Va., Spencer NC., Rock Hill SC., Daytona Beach and Cocoa Beach Fl, West Palm Beach Fl., Kings Bay Ga. and Beckley WV. it was the longest vacation I have taken in 20 years and it was desperately, desperately, desperately needed. Now it’s nearly the end of February.

I had several deadlines, I could have cancelled the vacation and worked. I didn’t, and part of the reason was the threat of bodily harm from friends and coworkers. 

Have I mentioned 2018 was a trying year? It was intense. On one hand I prefer to have work to do vs. the alternative. On the other hand, I’d like some balance. I took 3 vacation days the entire year. I get 3 weeks, thankfully I can carry it over. The overnighters at work and numerous 50-60-hour weeks lead to, well, let’s say emotionally unstable moments I’d like back. The overload took a toll on my physical, mental and emotional health. 

There were good times too, several weddings, good times with friends and family, birthday parties, Christmas pageant, and King Condrell’s ice cream. Unfortunately, the craziness won. 

Looking back, what can I learn? Spending most of the year working is not fun. Every time one deadline was met, several were missed or pushed back. I felt like I was living Ecclesiastes.

1 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: 
2 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” 
says the Teacher. 
“Utterly meaningless! 
Everything is meaningless.” 
3 What does man gain from all his labor 
at which he toils under the sun? 
4 Generations come and generations go, 
but the earth remains forever 
Ecclesiastes 1:1-4 NIV

Life, as is was, was meaningless. Thankfully, 2018 ended. I still have deadlines, but I have made a promise to myself that 2019 is not going to be like 2018. There is more to life than work.  So far this year, as a start, I am trying to limit working on weekends to give myself a break. We have also hired additional staff at work so I don't have to do it all. 

Edgar Albert Guest Wrote the poem Tomorrow, it’s been taped to my desk since I heard Alister Begg quote it in a sermon years ago. I need to pay it more attention and remember the word as 2019 unfolds. Tomorrow may not come. 

He was going to be all that a mortal should be
Tomorrow.
No one should be kinder or braver than he
Tomorrow.
A friend who was troubled and weary he knew,
Who'd be glad of a lift and who needed it, too;
On him he would call and see what he could do
Tomorrow.

Each morning he stacked up the letters he'd write
Tomorrow.
And thought of the folks he would fill with delight
Tomorrow.
It was too bad, indeed, he was busy today,
And hadn't a minute to stop on his way;
More time he would have to give others, he'd say
Tomorrow.

The greatest of workers this man would have been
Tomorrow.
The world would have known him, had he ever seen
Tomorrow.
But the fact is he died and he faded from view,
And all that he left here when living was through
Was a mountain of things he intended to do
Tomorrow.