Things that Last
It’s Tuesday, and I am sitting in a surgery staging area as I write this blog post. It’s one of those little ER-type spaces surrounded by a curtain, with plugs and hose connectors of all colors adorning the wall like some weird Christmas decorations, and a rather uncomfortable looking chair with levers that I imagine could turn you into a walking pretzel if used incorrectly.
I’m here because I took a member of our family for an outpatient procedure this morning; one that is typically characterized as relatively routine. I’m sure it’s going well, but I would argue that anytime you’re under anesthesia on an operating room table, I don’t think it qualifies as “routine”, at least not in my world. That said, I’ll admit that a big part of my perspective was shaped after we nearly lost Ruth during surgery a few years back.
I’ve been mulling all this over while bells chime and hospital staff peek in every 10 minutes to see if I really don’t want some Jello or Graham Crackers. Eventually something struck me, albeit a slightly melancholy thought. There is very little that lasts beyond us here on earth when we are taken up to glory to be with our Lord. As a result, if we can identify things that truly make lasting impacts during our lifetime and beyond, we should focus on them. So, what things might fall into that category?
The first thing that outlasts our time here on earth is clearly our family. They are the core around which all else during our life is built; the key element that guides and shapes who we are while alive. Lord willing, our children, grandchildren, and generations to come will be around for many years, and while they continue to expand our ever-growing list of descendants, the work we did on behalf of our family is never wasted. This is one important reason we are called North Dakota Family Alliance.
That is not to say we always see the fruits of investing in our family. It is easy to sometimes get discouraged and think that our time and effort are having no positive impact, but keep in mind that we can only see the short-term and external effects, not the impacts on them as eternal beings. We often hear that we are not called to be successful, but to be obedient. Investing in our family is something that lasts, whether or not we see it.
The second thing lasting beyond our time here is the relationships we have with those outside our family. We all have friends and others who know us and whose lives we touch. These interactions outlive us, and therefore, matter far beyond what we currently experience. As with our families, it is our values, hopes, and vision for the future that will inspire others long after we are gone.
A third thing that will last beyond our lifetime is what we’ve accomplished. Whether we help feed others through our farming, design homes, provide clean drinking water, pave roads, or help codify our values into law, these things will last. But only to a point. Eventually, these too will fade away, so the important thing is not what you accomplished, but how you accomplished it. It will be remembered if you were a person of vision who inspired people, or if you always looked for faults in others and dashed their dreams. It will be remembered whether you showed love toward others or animosity.
I’m sure there are other things that last beyond our time here on Earth, but these are the ones that immediately come to mind. However, did you notice a theme across all of them? Each one is about relationships. How we interact with others, be it our family, friends, or coworkers – that is what lasts.
So what is the takeaway? I encourage you to work hard and be happy, as you glorify God in your job and build things, balance the books, or stock shelves. When God provides material possessions, be thankful and accept them. Make art, improve your environment, contribute to the good of society around you, pass on your business to those who will make it prosper, tell stories and teach life lessons to your grandchildren, and do much more. These are good things. But remember that it is your interaction with the eternal beings you encounter every day that will ultimately be the most impactful legacy you can leave. So go make a difference in someone’s life today and build your legacy – build something that will last.