A good man passed away recently. His death was the result of an accident and caught everyone by surprise. While his family and friends are understandably heartbroken, the aftermath has been a real testament to this Godly man and the legacy of faith, family, and friendship that he's passed on.

As I heard more bits and pieces about the understanding and kindness that was shown to the other parties in the accident, about the bravery of his family, and about how his life spurred others to faith, I couldn't help contrast that to another man who died suddenly.

When Ben's dad died 8 years ago it was also very sudden. We grieved - of course we did - but it was more about the lost potential and sad circumstances of his death than anything else. That may sound mean or irreverent, but it's simply true.

My father-in-law was a prescription drug addict. He was never mean or abusive, thankfully, but his addiction made him very self-centered and emotionally immature. His awkward behavior was often a source of embarrassment for the family and caused frustration and strained relationships at times. He was unable to be a support, guiding figure, or source of wisdom.

As I thought about the differences in these two men, the word that I kept coming back to was legacy. I'm convinced that every life has value and inherent worth. I believe every person born has immense potential. What I have come to see, though, is that not everyone is guaranteed to leave a true legacy.

True, sometimes corrupt people leave legacies regarding their work or public life, i.e. Elvis Presley's music legacy. But a true spiritual and relational legacy is something that, while possible by all, is achieved by too few.

Why is it uncommon to leave a legacy? After some thought, I believe that leaving a legacy is something that can only be done with intention. We have to choose to show up in our lives and in the lives of others. We can't sit on the sidelines hoping to be noticed or invited in. We can't get distracted by things that don't matter. And we can't fall prey to the lie that we're too small or insignificant to do something impactful.

In addition, leaving a legacy means leaning heavily on God and carefully cultivating an authentic relationship with him. As we pursue him and immerse ourselves in his Word, prayer, and community, he changes and equips us for way more than we could ever achieve on our own. We're sure to have impact, even as "broken vessels," because we allow him to shine through us.

When we leave this earth, there will be those left behind who remember and mourn us, but whether or not we truly leave a legacy is something that we must determine to do beforehand. It may not always be easy, but the repercussions will be felt by many and will give our loved ones something to hold on to for years to come.


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