How Will They Remember Us?

By Rev. Dean Davenport, Senior Pastor

Have you ever wondered how you would answer that question? What do you want people to remember about you when you’re gone? Is it an important question to ask or does it reek of self-centeredness? Does it really matter how other people perceive you?
 
I have thought more about this in the last 24 hours than I have, probably, in the last 24 years of my life. This question was brought to my mind with the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, the great Lakers basketball player. Jim Gray, in the last interview of Kobe in a Lakers's jersey, heard #24 say “at the end of my career I want people to think of me as a talented overachiever. I was blest with talent, but I worked as if I had none.” 

Wow! That’s a pretty powerful statement when you think of all of the implications of it – the value of hard work, not taking anything for granted, his understanding that his talent was a gift and how important it is to strive for excellence in all that we do. These are lessons to be taught to our children and grandchildren. As a society and Country, we would all be better off as a result.

These practical lessons also speak to us as Christians – not only should we strive for excellence in our careers/callings but that through those careers/callings (our vocations) we would grow and mature in our love for the Lord and for our fellowman. All of us have been blessed by God with unique gifts that He wants us to use to His glory.

Motivated by the Holy Spirit people will see less and less of us and more and more of the One who lives in us. Praise be to God if people would remember us like this – as someone who God used to love others – that what he/she said about their faith in Jesus lined up with how they lived their life – that he/she was a bold disciple of Jesus – a forgiven and redeemed child of God!