Life and Legacy

By: Randal Myers

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A strange but true story reported this week by Reuters takes place in Tokyo, Japan. Workers entered an abandoned apartment building to complete its preparation for demolition when they made the discovery. Lying on a futon and dressed in a pair of pajamas was the body of a deceased man. He had been a construction worker, a father and divorcee. After some investigation, it was determined that he simply had not come in for work but no one from his place of employment or from his family employment had reported him missing.

Well, maybe that story, while unpleasant and unfortunate, isn't so strange is it? I failed to mention one detail. It was determined that he had died in 1984; twenty years ago! The apartment appeared as if time had stood still for two decades. A newspaper dated February 20th, 1984 was lying on the kitchen table.

Apparently the man was fifty-seven years of age upon his death.

"When I am gone, will my life have mattered?"

Contrast that story with the passing of President Ronald Reagan which has dominated the news for all of this week. The impact of President Reagan's life and leadership has been duly noted by every news agency, every significant political leader across the entire world and by millions of American citizens who remember the man and his legacy.

I share in the sentiments of all those who remember President Reagan with fondness. His positive spirit, enthusiastic zest for life; his unashamed belief in God and great sense of humor; his restoring a sense of pride in America and of the nobility of the office of the presidency; the ability to dream big, see a bright future and cause others to join him in the pursuit of it along with many other facets of his personhood characterize his tenure in office and cause us to honor him in his death. Even the nature of the state funeral has seemingly brought the country, if only for a day or so, to a place of national pride and unity.

The two lives mentioned above stand in stark contrast to each other. One memorialized, remembered and loved; the other lonely, forgotten and unnoticed. Could the departure of two men be any more dissimilar?

The question rings in my head, ìWhen I am gone, will my life have mattered?î I may never be credited with something as grand as ending the ìcold warî, but aren't there some battles I could win that count for something? I may not impact the world, but shouldn't I have a positive effect on my sphere of influence? I doubt I could change the direction of the entire world like Ronald Reagan evidently did, but mustn't I point my family and friends down the pathway to God?

Scripture has left us all an important mission for life described in numerous manners. One of which was worded by Jesus himself. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

I must ask daily, ìIs my light shiningî? How about yours?

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