Leaving His Legacy, Not Mine

I find myself always questioning what legacy I can leave- on this university, on my friends, and on the world. I ask myself “What can I do that will stay around forever? What can truly make a difference? How can I change one thing for the better?” I know I’m not alone in this forward thinking.

When we ask ourselves these questions, though, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. We think we need to change the world, because we’ve grown up thinking that we are capable of that. I’m not disagreeing, but we think of the world as a whole when we say that. Truthfully, however, you’re changing the world if you just change one person’s heart or impact one’s life for the better. It all starts with one, doesn’t it?

In college and even high school, many people see “leaving a legacy” as titles in organizations on or off campus. Sometimes people think that the more titles you have, the “cooler” you are and the more that you’re giving to people or the more that you’re “serving.” I’m here to argue against that.

I come from a place of experience when I say the more titles you have, the less you’re truly serving. Granted, I don’t think this is true in every case; of course, there are exceptions. You don’t have to agree with me, either. Some people can handle a lot of roles and titles, but most people do less and less in each commitment in order to be able to do “more” things. But from my past 5 or 6 years of experience in high school and at college, the more I’ve tried to do in organizations and the more I’ve tried to “serve,” the less I’ve been successful in really making the impact that I should be making, or leaving the legacy that I truly want to leave, and the less I was serving the Lord through those roles and experiences. I disguised joining organizations, titles, and how many people I’ve met with what my real legacy can and should be.

Here’s a quick thought I’ve had about “serving” through a large number of titles: Remember that service is in your heart. You don’t need anything else. You don’t need a title. In fact, many people who hold a whole list of titles don’t actually make the impact that someone without a title can (again, coming from experience, being that person and knowing that person). Titles are essentially nothing if you don’t use them to your best ability and for a greater purpose. Consider these questions: Who are you without your organizations, your positions, your roles? Could someone tell who you really are just by having a conversation with you or by learning your dreams, or do you hide behind a resume?

Walking home today I came to realize that I’ve had a few ideas for what I want my legacy to be here at Virginia Tech. I’ve thought about my passions, my experiences, and what I still would like to do that I haven’t yet. I considered the people I’ve met and how I’ve changed because of them. However, I soon realized that I don’t want to leave my legacy, I want to leave the Lord’s legacy. I don’t want to do something that’s “big” enough for people to remember my name for my sake. I don’t want people to be impacted by me because of something I did, but I want them to be impacted by me because of the love of Jesus Christ shining through me. I don’t owe the world a legacy with my name on it, but rather a legacy that is entirely in honor of and in glorification of the Lord.

A phenomenal friend of mine talked me through a tough time a few months ago when I was spread too thin in my involvements. She had been through something similar and reminded me that all I needed to do was to do things through Jesus, not because I’m required by Him to have any titles. The only title I need is “believer” in the love of the Lord, in His works, and in His planned legacy. I’ve cut back in my involvements ever since that conversation so that I can do a better job to focus on my relationship with the Lord and to let the love that Jesus Christ let shine in His relationships actually shine in mine. I pray everyday to love others as Jesus first loved me, and I pray it for others to do that, too.

Now I’m more confident than ever that no matter what awesome experience I have or how many people I know, that it is how I use the Lord’s love through me and what I do that will be my legacy. It’s not about me, it’s about Him and how much He loves us.

I’ll conclude with a verse I read every morning before Orientation that encouraged me to let my work be the Lord’s. I hope you like it.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

-Colossians 3:23-24