"I want to leave a legacy; how will they remember me; did I choose to love to love? Did I point to you enough?" This popular song, Legacy, by Nichole Nordeman asks one of the deepest questions of our hearts. How will I be remembered when I am gone?
In the movie Gladiator (one of my favorite films) Emperor Marcus Aurelius asks the same question. In a conversation with General Maximus, he says, "I am dying Maximus... When a man sees his end he want to know their was some purpose for his life. How will the world speak my name in years to come? Will I be remembered as the philosopher, the warrior, the tyrant? Or will I be remembered as the man who gave Rome back her true self?"
Our Solomon's Porch class is reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Chapter two is titled, "You Might Not Finish This Chapter." Again, the theme resembles my previous two illustrations, but emphasizes the notion that life could end for any of us at any time. So in Wednsday nights class, we went around the room and discussed the lives of people we have known who have died abruptly. We asked the questions, "What do you think they would want to be remembered for?" and "What regrets do you think they might have had when they died?" Although the topic was a little somber, I think it was good for each of us to discuss these things, because then we spun it around to ask, "What things would I like to be remembered for?" My kindness, love and generosity? Or will it be difficult for others to remember good things about me? Will I be the kind of person that gives generously of myself, dedicating my life to fighting for what is noble or will I be the kind that is so enraptured in myself that I live selfishly, taking more than I give?
In our last SPS study we studied the life of King David. One of the sticking points from that study (for me) is when Abigail tells David, "The Lord will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master, because he fights the Lord's battles." -1 Samuel 25:28. I thought how cool would it be if I was remembered as someone who "fought the Lord's battles".
The conversation was good and I believe hearts were honest. Wednesday night reminded me that Jesus calls each of us to "Take up our cross daily and follow Him."-Luke 9:23. It reminds me now that there is not only a purpose to our lives, but there is also a purpose to this day. How each day we have a choice to do the right thing or the easy thing and that carrying a cross is hard. But it is also right and good.
We wrapped up the lesson talking about regrets... If today was the day you actually met God, what unfinished things would you regret not doing? Some of us confessed things, others just thought quietly to themselves and both were appropriate.
"Why you don't even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that lasts a little while and then vanishes." -James 4:14
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