Legacy
Legacy is what we leave, when we leave, for those we leave behind.
Do you ever wonder what your legacy will be? When folks gather to tell your tale, what will they remember? How will they describe your days on this earth? What gifts or burdens will you leave behind? What will your legacy be?
January 20, 2025, will go down in history as a day that built, secured and celebrated many legacies- from the gridiron to the halls of political power to a Birmingham jail. Some of us began that legacy day participating in a service project to honor the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Others watched the inauguration of the 47th President of the United States. Others donned either green or red to watch the National College Football Championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame. Wherever you found yourself yesterday, you were sharing in a legacy moment. How will those moments move and shape who we are and what we leave behind?
This year, the celebration of Dr. King’s legacy focused on his vision of “the beloved community” where all are welcome, where no one is left behind, where love is valued over hate. King wrote, “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too big a burden to carry. We must in strength and humility meet hate with love.” When he accepted the 1964 Nobel Prize for Peace, he declared, “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right- temporarily defeated is stronger than evil- triumphant.” Looking at the world today sixty years later, I am tempted to call King’s vision of the “beloved community” naïve. Yet he was only echoing God’s Word in Paul’s letter to the Romans.
January 20, 2025, will go down in history as a day that built, secured and celebrated many legacies- from the gridiron to the halls of political power to a Birmingham jail. Some of us began that legacy day participating in a service project to honor the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Others watched the inauguration of the 47th President of the United States. Others donned either green or red to watch the National College Football Championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame. Wherever you found yourself yesterday, you were sharing in a legacy moment. How will those moments move and shape who we are and what we leave behind?
This year, the celebration of Dr. King’s legacy focused on his vision of “the beloved community” where all are welcome, where no one is left behind, where love is valued over hate. King wrote, “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too big a burden to carry. We must in strength and humility meet hate with love.” When he accepted the 1964 Nobel Prize for Peace, he declared, “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right- temporarily defeated is stronger than evil- triumphant.” Looking at the world today sixty years later, I am tempted to call King’s vision of the “beloved community” naïve. Yet he was only echoing God’s Word in Paul’s letter to the Romans.
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves…
Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12)
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves…
Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12)
King’s vision of the ‘beloved community’ is actually God’s call to share in building a legacy that honors the Savior and blesses His children.
Last night, I found myself in another legacy moment, one I could not have imagined a year ago. There I was, a devoted Penn Stater cheering for Ohio State to win the National Football Championship. I did not wear red, but I did root for those Buckeyes to support our new Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry- Brandon Best. Many of you have seen him proudly wearing his OSU red. I suspect that we will see that shirt again on Sunday. It hurt my heart to cheer for Ohio State, but better that than to cheer for Notre Dame with their “Touchdown Jesus” statue. At the end of the game, reporters interviewed the victorious OSU quarterback, Will Howard. He is a graduate of Downingtown West High School. Back in the day, he wanted to play for Penn State, but PSU missed the mark. Last night, he stood victorious, with his shot at an NFL career guaranteed, and his legacy secured in the heart of every Ohio State fan. He could have basked in all that glory, but instead, Will Howard gave all the glory to Jesus. For Howard, the only legacy that matters is one that points to the Savior.
Today the Bell family will celebrate a family legacy. Today would have been my mother and father-in-law’s 75th wedding anniversary. From their love and faithfulness have come 10 children, 30 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren with 2 more on the way. I know the family will share stories today to honor them. The story I will share might surprise you. It comes from my father-in-law’s funeral. The large sanctuary of their church was packed that day- with people standing in the aisles. To see the crowd, you might suspect the funeral was for a celebrity. But my father-in-law was just a local realtor. He was neither wealthy nor powerful. He will never be remembered in history books. He just led an honest life… went to church… loved his wife… raised his kids… and helped people find their forever home. He lived quietly and died quietly doing what he loved- grapefruit for breakfast, a quick read of the paper, lunch with his wife, time at the office. A simple man. A loving man. A faithful man. Hundreds of people came that day to honor him because his life touched theirs. Richard J. Bell left a legacy that honored the Savior.
How many spend their lives trying to build their legacy. They want their name and their accomplishments to be remembered. The inclination of our society encourages that legacy building. We celebrate those who are larger than life. We follow them. We cheer for them. We see them in concert, and we vote for them. I wonder what we would do if we met the One who was a simple Rabbi. We honor power, but He died powerless. We honor popularity, but He died scorned. We honor wealth, but He died in poverty. We honor winners, but He appeared to all a loser. How often the ones we follow look nothing like the One we claim to follow. Those self-absorbed legacies that we honor never honor the Savior.
What will our legacy be? Whose name will they remember when we are gone? Jesus teaches: Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16) Will we leave a legacy that honors the Savior?
With you in this legacy moment,
Anita
Last night, I found myself in another legacy moment, one I could not have imagined a year ago. There I was, a devoted Penn Stater cheering for Ohio State to win the National Football Championship. I did not wear red, but I did root for those Buckeyes to support our new Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry- Brandon Best. Many of you have seen him proudly wearing his OSU red. I suspect that we will see that shirt again on Sunday. It hurt my heart to cheer for Ohio State, but better that than to cheer for Notre Dame with their “Touchdown Jesus” statue. At the end of the game, reporters interviewed the victorious OSU quarterback, Will Howard. He is a graduate of Downingtown West High School. Back in the day, he wanted to play for Penn State, but PSU missed the mark. Last night, he stood victorious, with his shot at an NFL career guaranteed, and his legacy secured in the heart of every Ohio State fan. He could have basked in all that glory, but instead, Will Howard gave all the glory to Jesus. For Howard, the only legacy that matters is one that points to the Savior.
Today the Bell family will celebrate a family legacy. Today would have been my mother and father-in-law’s 75th wedding anniversary. From their love and faithfulness have come 10 children, 30 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren with 2 more on the way. I know the family will share stories today to honor them. The story I will share might surprise you. It comes from my father-in-law’s funeral. The large sanctuary of their church was packed that day- with people standing in the aisles. To see the crowd, you might suspect the funeral was for a celebrity. But my father-in-law was just a local realtor. He was neither wealthy nor powerful. He will never be remembered in history books. He just led an honest life… went to church… loved his wife… raised his kids… and helped people find their forever home. He lived quietly and died quietly doing what he loved- grapefruit for breakfast, a quick read of the paper, lunch with his wife, time at the office. A simple man. A loving man. A faithful man. Hundreds of people came that day to honor him because his life touched theirs. Richard J. Bell left a legacy that honored the Savior.
How many spend their lives trying to build their legacy. They want their name and their accomplishments to be remembered. The inclination of our society encourages that legacy building. We celebrate those who are larger than life. We follow them. We cheer for them. We see them in concert, and we vote for them. I wonder what we would do if we met the One who was a simple Rabbi. We honor power, but He died powerless. We honor popularity, but He died scorned. We honor wealth, but He died in poverty. We honor winners, but He appeared to all a loser. How often the ones we follow look nothing like the One we claim to follow. Those self-absorbed legacies that we honor never honor the Savior.
What will our legacy be? Whose name will they remember when we are gone? Jesus teaches: Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16) Will we leave a legacy that honors the Savior?
With you in this legacy moment,
Anita
Posted in From The Pastor
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