Wednesday Word: Legacies

What if our lasting contribution to the Church and to the world is simply exercising our gifts to the fullest? – The Rev. Steven R. Ford; The Living Church; July 10, 2016

These words are from an article that Fr. Ford wrote for the Living Church over three years ago. The article focuses on leaving a legacy and the various ways we do that.

Nobody leaves just one legacy. A huge financial legacy to a hospital or a church may be hiding an inconvenient family legacy that someone wants hidden; or, at the very least, to serve as a distraction from people digging too deep. Harriet Tubman, and many others, left a legacy of stealing property in the name of equality and freedom. And within our own families, those who have gone before have left legacies of beloved Uncle Andy or crazy Aunt Mabel.

What legacy will each of us leave behind? Are we even conscious that we are leaving legacies behind with everything we do? Maybe we could ask ourselves a series of questions each time we were faced with taking an action or making a comment – Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? Is it helpful?

Another way we might consider the legacies we leave behind is by examining the gifts God has given us and how we can utilize those gifts for the betterment of the Church and the world around us.

Today is Christmas. For those of you who read these Wednesday Words first thing in the morning, our Christmas Day service begins at 9:00 – you might still have time to make it. At that service we will hear from the Gospel of John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God . . .”

This is another way of saying that God has not only given us the gift of his Son, but that God has given each of us gifts of our own to use in our various callings.

As I said in my Christmas Eve sermon last night, “The point of Christmas is to share what we have with others (inclusive of God sharing his Son with us).”

We have each been given at least one gift from God to use and share with others. As we begin the cycle of a New Year, maybe spend some time pondering what your gift from God to Church and world might be. And then, by using and exercising those gifts to the fullest, we will begin to lay the groundwork for leaving our legacy.

Blessings,

Todd+