LEGACY
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.. .John 17:12”
On a hot humid night last August, I was playing “Playing Thirty Foot” Tiger” with some friends in Marin. It was so dark, and all around the stars were blazing, and one could see thousands of fire fly’s drifting around, all the way to heaven. It was a surreal night.
Every year on my birthday I receive an email from an old friend, who asks me, “What is your legacy?” She tells me you need to do something to be remembered by and not forgotten. I am laughing now, at my on stupidity in thinking of a material legacy, because I have a great legacy, one that is intangible, and spiritual.
As I have thought about my “legacy” those fire fly’s , and those stars tell me that my legacy is not in being remembered, but in the gift I leave, that continues to transform the lives of people. The fire fly’s, the stars, that will continue long after I am gone, passed on through the lives of my friends, that I have loved.
On my birthday as I was surrounded by my teen friends playing games, teasing me, going on a hike, and a drive, they were silly, laughing, full of fun, and they loved me, I saw my living legacy, in the 225 snap chats, and 100 emails I received from youth and young adults whose lives have encountered mine through the years, I see my legacy, in the photos of the two thousand plus young men and women, whom I have buried, and many of whom died holding my hand, that is my legacy. In the lives of people who read my posts, and my writings, that is my legacy. And my relationship with Jesus of Nazareth who has shown me so much love and grace, which I hope in loving I share, that is my legacy.
When I am told I am co-dependent, take chances that put me in danger professionally and physically, throw my money away, all of which shows immaturity, I remember that my immaturity, may be a maturity in the eyes of Someone else, and I look to the day when I will truly know. For now I live the questions.
There have been two attempts on my life this last year, and at one time I feared dying alone, but now I know I will never die alone, for the thousands of faces of those I have been friends with will be a part of that Great Cloud of Witnesses, surrounding me, calling me home, and in them I see Jesus of Nazareth. I will never die alone.
So on this birthday, I see my legacy, clearly for really the first time, and it is enough,for in the fire fly’s and the stars of the people I have touch, attempting to be a Christ-bearer, I see the Christ, and that is more than enough! Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!
Fr. River Damien Sims, sfw, D.Min., D.S.T.
P.O. Box 642656
San Francisco, CA 94164
415-305-2124