Legacies are being turned upside down.
- Generous benefactors known to be slave-owners are seeing their statues dislodged, or at least relocated to less prominent places.
- Gareth Southgate, England’s football manager is remembered for his failure to score in a penalty shoot-out two decades ago. His legacy may be reshaped by England’s performance in the Euros this summer.
- The legacy of the previous health secretary was already being debated but he will probably be forever remembered for his recently uncovered indiscretions.
Intentional legacy building Preparing to die well suddenly, we should clarify our wishes, make a will, sort out our finances. But we might also think it worth thinking how our legacy presents our life achievements in the best possible light, deleting damaging ghosts from our past that are locked in a cupboard. These days it is fashionable to talk about the legacy public figures intentionally build for themselves.
I became especially aware of this phenomenon when, in 2007, Tony Blair was preparing to hand over as PM in the UK. He had previously proudly claimed to be building on Thatcher’s legacy. He achieved many social and economic transformations and provided bold crisis leadership after the death of Princess Diana and after 9/11. But for many he will be remembered for Britain’s involvement in the Iraq war in 2003 – highly controversial, unpopular and disastrous in so many ways.
Everyone is capable of wrongdoing, making mistakes, being deceived and being the deceiver. This is core to Christian faith. But the details of the lives of public figures and celebrities are widely known. Their failures cause damage to more people. Reputations usually take a long time to establish. Public opinion can be quick to condemn and destroy a positive legacy.
There are of course rare individuals who really have changed the world but were only appreciated after their death. There are writers who remained unpublished, or painters unknown until after their deaths. These days many little-known women are now being applauded for their past contributions to society.
Being remembered A legacy is what is left when we are gone – particularly after our death but, like Tony Blair, maybe after we have moved on from a responsibility. But why would anyone, however famous, want to shape their legacy? After all, once dead no one can defend or build on past achievements. Listen to this:
The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered. Whatever they did in their lifetime—loving, hating, envying—is all long gone. They no longer play a part in anything here on earth.*
Understandably, most people want to leave their footprint as evidence they once walked upon this earth. More than a monument, a tombstone or blue plaque, we want to be remembered, for our personal identity to be preserved in some way. But should we define our own legacy before we die, or let others do so after our death? The former smells of self-obsessed aggrandisement! If the prime purpose of someone’s legacy is focussed upon showering praise and glory upon its creator, it deserves to end up tarnished. But if we make a priority of living wisely, doing the ‘right’ thing, we can leave other people and history itself to identify and appraise the value of our ‘legacy’.
My attention was recently drawn to the legacy-building of Absalom, the charismatic son of King David.* He had three sons and one beautiful daughter, named after his sister, Tamar. He built a pillar near Jerusalem as a monument to himself. By the time he did that, it appears he no longer had any sons to provide continuity for his name. With no descendants, he did not want to be written out of the history books**. Absalom’s Monument was recognised and remembered for many years. But his better-known longer surviving legacy is told in the sordid account of his rebellious attempt to depose his father David from the throne – a tarnished legacy.
Remembered by our descendants Continuity provided by our children, grandchildren and future biological generations are obviously a ‘legacy’, but not just ours for they are shared with other family members. Relationships with family, friends and colleagues provide the basis to be remembered, for good or ill. But if we simply build relationships in order to create a lasting legacy, the quality of such relationships will be questionable! So often we play just one small but significant walk-on part in someone’s life.
Remembered by our actions These may be artistic, practical or professionally competent, bringing pleasure to others or making a positive difference in our society. We may offer acts of service to our community, a charity, a church or a voluntary body and have the satisfaction of seeing positive results from our involvement. But we don’t usually do this to receive a reward.
Sharing our wealth We can do this while we are alive or after our death, to make a lasting difference. But Jesus warns us to give from the heart, rather than to draw attention to our generosity.
Jesus’ legacy He intentionally came to change the world, to bring humanity back to God. He is primarily remembered for this. He left the legacy of the Passover when he gave his disciples the Last Supper, as a memorial of his death. This also contained the promise of a new covenant that would exist from then on. His body was broken, his blood was poured out – signs that all those who accept him are reconciled to God. History itself has recognised the legacy of his death and resurrection. It lasts into eternity.
Jesus has also left behind a different sort of legacy, his body, the church. The apostle Paul wrote to Christians in Philippi calling them his ‘brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown’.**** These followers of Jesus mattered most to him, above everything else. This crown (we might call a legacy) is not his, but God’s. That’s why it also lasts into eternity!
Today a few of us were exploring the story of the woman who lavishly pours perfume over Jesus’ head*****. His disciples criticise her for such a wasteful action. But Jesus jumps to her defence. She had anointed his body in preparation for his burial, and she will forever be remembered for this. Jesus had accurately established her legacy.
If Jesus were to simply say to me at the end of my life, “Well done, good and faithful servant”, I think I would be satisfied.
This is my story and a work in progress, prompted by the current reworking of an understanding of the British Empire. I wrote this on 22nd March 2021 and 4th July 2021.
*Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 (NLT) **Deryck Sheriffs The human need for continuity Tyndale Bulletin 55 (2004) ***2 Samuel 18:18 ****Philippians 4:11 (NIV) ***** Mark 14:3-11
Sudden death... then what? 
This is great writing mum! Great stuff!
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