Legacy

Legacy. This is the word that has been circulating around a lot lately. Given the events of last week, many politicians in Washington are facing a critical juncture on what their legacies might become. President Trump has the distinction of being the only president impeached twice, the second time for incitement of insurrection. The Senators and Representatives who attempted to block the Electoral College vote, especially those who continued to do so after the attack on the Capitol, are facing tremendous blow-back for their theatrics to curry favor with Trump supporters for their own political ambitions. Today’s impeachment vote in the House will impact the legacy of many Republicans. Will they stand against the party and vote to impeach? Will they vote their conscience in support of our democracy or continue to focus on their political futures? Decisions were made. Only time will tell how their legacies will play out.

The real reason legacy has been on my mind this week, however, is because of Ms. Sue. We attended the memorial service for Sue Lippert on Saturday. Sue was the organist / pianist for our church, First United Methodist Church, for over 30 years. To say Sue was exceptionally talented is an understatement. Her gift filled the sanctuary. Even at the end of service, often we would have to pause to just take in whatever closing music she was playing. She was quite a character, often referring to herself as “the pest.” When asked how she was doing, her typical reply was “just peachy.” Ms. Sue has such an amazing impact on the youth that went through the music program, mine included. She referred to them as “her kids.” I must admit, however, what I knew of Sue was quite superficial. Not being a person with any musical talent, I am not in choir or handbells. Consequently I never had the opportunity to get to know Sue on a more personal level. I learned some things during the memorial that showed many facets of Sue I never knew. One was a story relayed from her children coming home one day to mom playing an unexpected, yet familiar tune on the piano – “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. Ms. Sue rocking Queen! What a vision that created in my mind! Another story told of Sue loading up the family car with as many neighborhood kids, blankets, and lawn chairs possible and going to the drive-in movies. Watching her with our kids, I can see how she would’ve been a great mom, not only to her kids, but to all kids. This story exemplifies that to perfection.

The best story I never knew came from former Associate Professor Tom Howard. One of my favorite ways to pray the Lord’s Prayer is a responsive song Tom would lead. What I didn’t know was how that method of worship came to be a tradition in the church. Tom shared that a former pastor asked him to come up with a responsive song. Tom and Sue got together to figure it out. Tom relayed he sang a few versions that Sue recorded. An hour and a half later, Sue returned with the sheet music and this beautiful tradition was born. Tom is providing pastoral leadership to another congregation these days, but on occasion we are blessed with Tom’s return to lead us in praising our Lord through this song.

Each of us will leave a legacy – good or bad. Travis and I are trying to get our dogs accustomed to sleeping in our travel trailer, so we camped out in our backyard one night in early fall. I couldn’t sleep so I got up and went into the living room. We had music playing and the Rascal Flats song “How They Remember You” came on the radio. In the dead of night, listening to this song, well it had quite an impact. The song states “You’re going to leave a legacy no matter what you do. It ain’t a question of if they will, it’s how they remember you.” Through the chorus and other stanzas, the song prompts the following questions:

Did you stand or did you fall?

Build a bridge or build a wall?

Hide your love or give it all?

Did you make them laugh or make them cry?

Did you quit or did you try?

Live your dreams or let them die?

When you’re down to your last dollar, will you give or will you take?

When the stiff wind blows the hardest, will you bend or will you break?

What a beautiful was to frame how a life should be lived.

In considering how I might be remembered, as a reserved person, my circle of influence is pretty small. I won’t be the person whose funeral is attended by hundreds of people, assuming I would want a funeral anyway. But if my legacy is as a person who helped at least one other person live a better life, then I can’t ask for anything better.