Q1 2017

IMAGINE YOUR FUNERAL. Not the brightest topic, to be
sure, but one worth serious thought? no matter what your
age. Your family and friends have gathered to honor your
life. But what do you leave behind? Beyond the contents of
your last will and testament, what part of you remains on
earth even after you?ve passed away?
Your legacy. It?s something you create during your life solely
to benefit future generations, something you may never see
come to fruition. Just like a farmer who plants a tree
knowing he?ll never live to taste its fruits, a legacy is a gift
you leave behind without expecting anything in return.
Think of John F. Kennedy and the space program or Martin
Luther King Jr. and civil rights. They died before their
legacies were fulfilled, but they will be forever revered for
their efforts.
Just like that farmer?s sprouting tree, legacies don?t happen
overnight? and they don?t happen by accident. They?re
deliberately crafted over years of hard work and dedication.
But you don?t have to give up your worldly possessions and
become a Mother Teresa to start building your legacy now.
A?legacy isn?t only about leaving what you earned but also
what you learned, and we all have an opportunity to make a
difference. It doesn?t call for wealth, fame or even taking
giant steps? you don?t have to be a Gandhi or a Martin
Luther King to leave a positive mark right now, one that will
linger long after you?re gone.?So where can you start? Here
are some pointers to inspire you.
Identify what matters to you
It is not until you determine what is significant that you
discover the true meaning of legacy building. ?Ken
Dychtwald reached a similar conclusion in a recent survey
focusing on elder generations and their baby boomer
children. He and colleagues at his company, Age Wave,
discovered four ?pillars of legacy?: values and life lessons,
instructions and wishes to be fulfilled, possessions of
emotional value, and property and money. When asked
which pillar meant the most to them, both groups answered
resoundingly: values and life lessons.
What?s important to you? What are your values? How do
you want your life to touch others? What would make you
proud? If you had to do one thing to improve your world,
what would your contribution be? How can you increase
the well-being of those who depend on you? How can you
leave your mark on whatever you do?
By asking ourselves how we want to be remembered, we
plant the seeds for living our lives as if we matter.
Considering your legacy gives you a compass to help you
move with purpose and determination even in the most
uncertain times.?More than just how you will be
remembered, a legacy strategy helps you purposefully plan
and guide your own future as you think about what you?re
uniquely called and gifted to do.
Identify what matters to God
One of our deepest needs in life is to feel secure, to feel
valuable, to feel acceptance. Because of this we are
constantly doing two things, evaluating and comparing.
We do this all the time, consciously and unconsciously. We
judge ourselves by one of the world?s four standards that
don?t matter:
Appearance. How do I look? This mentality says that the
more beautiful you are, the more important and more
valuable you are.
Affluence. If I own a lot, then I must be worth a lot.
Achievement.?Do you base your value on your awards,
notoriety, and promotions?
Approval. How many people like me? How popular am I?
The problem with this value system is that it?s not stable.
Beauty fades with age; possessions wear out; someone else
will surpass your successes; and not everyone will like you.
So what should be your chief aim in life. Jesus said, Seek
first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. In short,
what matters to God is God. His reputation, glory, and His
legacy.
5