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