The Legacy of a life well lived

Last night, I went to the viewing for my Great Aunt Mary who recently passed away on Monday.  It was a time for the family to come together and to share memories with each other and to express condolences.  There was a great deal of both laughter and tears as we reconnected with distant family members and shared one another's grief at her passing or attempted to console those who were closer to her.  It is the second time this year that I have experienced a death of someone close to me.  The first was of my beloved professor Dr. David Dorsey.  At his funeral, the line began at the front of the chapel of the school, went outside the door, down the hallway, and past a classroom.  There were over 500 people in attendance at his funeral.  Several pastors were asked to speak and to give a word the life that he lived.  There wasn't a dry eye in the entire place.

These events have made me really contemplate what it means to leave a legacy.  What does a well-lived life look like?  Certainly, the respect and admiration held by the mourners at both of these funerals demonstrates what that is.  One of the pastors at the funeral for Dr. Dorsey said it well that it is difficult to describe him without making him sound as though he was part of the trinity.  Indeed, that was true of him and I believe that that is what a life well-lived looks like.  Dr. Dorsey struggled with a severe lung infection that he picked up while doing archaeological work in Israel in his twenties.  For the past several decades, he was the Old Testament professor at Evangelical despite having the credentials to teach anywhere he wanted.  He chose to live a humble life, yet anyone who knew him recognized his greatness.  One professor put it well, "He was great enough to be small."  You see, that is how Jesus lived.  By all accounts, Jesus lived a humble life, never settling down, never using his power for his own gain, but considered others before himself.  As it says in Philippians, Jesus did not consider equality with God something to grasped, but instead made himself in the likeness of man and humbled himself by becoming obedient to death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8 paraphrase)  This is what Dr. Dorsey did as he lived.  In all things he was humble, yet his humility never diminished his greatness.  Perhaps even, it was his humility that made his greatness shine all the more.

I have written other blog posts inspired by Dr. Dorsey and his life.  His impact is evident in my life in many ways, from the way I interpret the Old Testament to the way I interact with others.  I always remember his comments concerning his suffering.  He believed that in spite of the illness and devastating side-effects of the medication that he endured he was still blessed by God beyond measure.  This alone would have been enough wisdom and insight into the heart of God to draw anyone into God's presence, yet this is only one of the many things that he taught me about life and more importantly about God.  He had a singular focus and that was to introduce every student to God and to show them how much God loved and cared for them.  There were numerous times in his lecture where he would share stories of his own life that were filled with incredible vulnerability.  It had the disarming effect of drawing us in and of fostering a loving community for those brief few hours.  In those moments we had truly joined together and become one body.  I think what he imprinted on me most was to have an utter dependence on God.  There were many times where his illness had nearly claimed his life, yet through it all, he knew his ultimate end and knew that God was with him.  His life was a living testimony of walking with God and depending on him for our daily bread.

I know it can seem a bit morbid to talk about death.  It is something that very few of us, especially the younger generations ever give much thought to.  The reality of the situation, however, is that there will come a time where we are no longer around, where all that is left behind is our legacy.  Dr. Dorsey's legacy is that of a humble life lived in communion with God.  It was a life of vulnerability and a deep dependence on Him.  When one reflects on such a life, it is impossible not to take stock of how your own life is being lived.  Questions begin to arise.  How will others remember you when you're gone?  Will they think about the times that you sat and listened to them or those times where you were just a little too busy?  Will they consider the great acts of humility that you showed or will they dwell on the times that your pride got the better of you?  I'd like to say that people will remember me by the compassion that I showed and the love they felt when I was with them.  I want them to see my own vulnerability and be inspired to do the same.  I want to imitate Dr. Dorsey as he imitated Christ.  For truly that is the legacy of a well-lived life.
 

I want to leave a legacy

How will they remember me?

Did I choose to love?  Did I point to You enough

To make a mark on things?

I want  to leave an offering

A child of mercy and grace who

blessed your name unapologetically

And leave that kind of legacy

(Excerpt from Legacy by Nicole Nordeman)