“I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” II Timothy 4:7-8

I’ve often read these familiar word from II Timothy at the funeral, of a person whose life was a shining example of Christ-like love and service. One to be emulated, as we continue our own lives.

A few years ago, I came across a site for creating an Ethical Will. This Will has nothing to do with wealth or financial resources. It is a statement to leave one’s family, about the guiding forces in our life. Why did we act as we did? What forces shaped and formed us? Who inspired us? What was our childhood like and the people in our childhood?   How did our faith influence  our actions? The Ethical Will gave a framework to leave one’s family, of wisdom we had gained, and principles that guided our lives.

At this stage of life, I find myself pondering my place in the world, my time here, and how my life connects to those before me and those who will follow me. We inhabit this Earth for a set period of time. Others have gone before us. Still, others will come after us. What we do in the space of time that is given to us, is a marker of who we are. Our values, our loves, our yearnings, all are lived out in the span of days we’re given.  With our lives we reflect where our faith  has led us.

As I think of the long history of struggles, hopes and dreams, the yearnings for freedom . . . for justice . . . for a better world, I think of generations whose work and effort have enriched my life and lives of my loved ones.

We are the inhabitants and the inheritors of  women and men who put their hearts, souls and minds into creating a better and more just world.  One made possible, not only by the heroes we learn about in our schools, but, the ordinary people who chose to care when others did not. They were the volunteers who gave of themselves to benefit others, build parks and saved woodlands.   These were the people who spoke up at a risk to themselves . . . Individuals who took the hard and costly road of fighting for  justice and life-giving actions.

Every generation is called to continue the work of justice, of righteousness, of  investing to create a better and healthier world for all  who will live after us.

May our legacy be such, that some will have known compassion, because we walked beside them, while another found hope because we cared, and discouraged souls encountered  laughter and joy, because we lifted their spirit. May we live is a way that fosters hope and nurtures goodness, compassion, mercy and love so that when our lives are over, we will have furthered the causes that are dear to God’s heart. And we can say with the apostle Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” II Timothy 4:7