 Spiritual: July 30, 2008 Issue [#2528] |
  Spiritual
This week: Edited by: SophyBells  
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Hi, I'm SophyBells ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter. What will we leave behind when we come to the end of what Mary Oliver calls our “one wild and precious life?” What mark do we want to leave on the world – and what mark will we leave? That’s what I’d like for us to think about this week.
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book Finding Your Religion, compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred.  |
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What Will Your Legacy Be?
“When great souls die, after a period, peace blooms.
Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed. They existed. They exist in us.”
Maya Angelou
It’s a basic human need, isn’t it – the desire to leave something behind, to leave an imprint on the world? Whether we have just a few or many more years of living left, we all want something of ourselves to live beyond the grave, to say “I was here!” and my life made a difference.
What would have been my father’s 81st birthday came and went on July 16, reminding me of the legacy he left behind from his 75 years of living. By legacy, in this sense, I mean what kind of mark he left on the world, which remains even six years after his death. I thought of how generous he was, always stopping to help someone in trouble, and only asking that they do the same for someone else in need as repayment of the debt. I remembered how good he was with his hands, and how the home my mother still lives in was left in such good shape before he died, so that she would have a safe place to live without him. And I recalled his sense of humor – we still laugh at the corny jokes he told, pranks he pulled, and expressions he used.
As I pondered the life and legacy of my father, it led to my thinking about what sort of legacy I want to leave behind after I’m gone. And what am I doing to make sure I leave the legacy I want to leave after I’m gone? I don’t have children, so I’m not going to be leaving that kind of legacy behind – but I do have other ways I can leave my mark on the world, hopefully in a positive way. So what are those, and how can I ensure that I leave them? Obviously the legacy we intend isn’t always the one we end up leaving – but what if we were more intentional about it?
Whether it’s leaving money to an institution for the good of others, or focusing one’s life on a particular issue or cause for justice, some people inherently want to make the world better place for their having been in it, and thus do something to make that happen. One of the ways they do that, as I’ve already said, is to work actively to leave a particular legacy behind after they are gone. People who care about poverty and justice for the homeless, for instance, make that a substantial part of their life’s work or volunteerism. Jim Wallis of Sojourners comes to mind. Others who care about nurturing and teaching children, the future of the world, leave a legacy by parenting or teaching, as many folks here at WDC do. And of course, many of us leave our legacy in our writing -- the journals, stories, and poems we leave behind after we are gone, that give outsiders a glimpse into our soul.
Still others leave a tangible legacy by an “ethical will." What’s an ethical will? Andrew Weil, health specialist and author of “Healthy Aging” wrote in Time Magazine a few years ago: “An ordinary will or last testament concerns the disposition of [our] material possessions at death. An ethical will has to do with nonmaterial gifts: the values and life lessons that [we] wish to leave to others.” An online guide to writing Ethical Wills says: “An ethical will reflects the ‘voice of the heart.’ Think of it as a love letter to your family [and friends]. Every ethical will is as unique as the person writing it. Things one might want to include could be: important personal values; key spiritual beliefs; hopes and blessings for future generations; life's lessons [as you’ve learned them]; forgiving others and asking for forgiveness.” It’s important to note that ethical wills are not just for those who are dying – creating an ethical will can be a deep spiritual practice no matter where we are on our life journey, no matter how young or old we may be. I especially like the idea because as someone who does not have children as I said earlier, I won’t be leaving that kind of legacy of future generations with my DNA. But as a daughter, sister, aunt, friend, wife, and citizen of the world, I certainly can still leave my mark – and an ethical will would help me organize and perhaps even implement my goals and values because the act of writing it down would not only help me summarize and prioritize what is important to me, but also encapsulate my values in a way to remind me what is important to me and what I want to achieve in my life. In other words, perhaps the act of writing it down will help me live and achieve my values and goals, and thus, my legacy.
Ethical wills can be saved in a safe place, shared with loved ones, edited and changed as life goes on, and sometime even shared at that person’s memorial service after they are gone. I am definitely going to write one for myself. Maybe some of you will do the same. It can be a powerful spiritual exercise, not to mention a great writing one, and might just help you define your legacy, and live it out in this present moment. You can find out more about ethical wills at www.ethicalwills.com, and see examples of them on the site as well. How do you want to be remembered? What legacy do you wish to leave behind? What will you do to ensure that the legacy you want to leave is the one that is left when you are gone?
SophyBells |
Below you'll find some offerings from other WDC members about leaving a legacy. Please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment or review.
First, from "The Writer's Cramp" :
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And from around the site:
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Now for a few comments about my last newsletter on the spirituality of laughter.
From bronxbishop
Hi Sophy,
I thought this weeks newsletter was great. All to often we think of and act out spirituality in a somber, almost lethargic manner. Hey, lighten up. God must have a sense of humor or he would not have created kittens.
 Thanks for your comment, and the laugh. I'm glad you liked the newsletter!
     
From faithjourney
Thanks for the great newsletter on laughter. I agree that Christianity is too serious. I believe Jesus probably had an outrageous sense of humor (he had to if he came to Earth to save us!).
I think Jesus must have been a pretty funny guy too!
From Joy 
Great newsletter, Sophy, and so true. I loved the Native American story. As the wise anonymous said, "Even if there is nothing to laugh about, laugh on credit."
Glad you enjoyed it, Joy, and thanks for sharing the great wise quote -- I love that! 
From Wren 
Excellent newsletter, Sophy! I'd never have made all those connections with laughter in different religious expressions. It is truly a universal thing of the spirit. Thanks.
Thanks, Wren, glad you liked it. And I agree, laughter is the universal language of spirit.
From mathG
How refreshing! I'm new to writers.com and so far the tone is VERY welcoming. However, because of my background, I must admit that reading this was a little test of the acceptance level. You passed with flying colors!
Welcome to WDC! Glad you are enjoying the newsletter, and thanks for your comment.
From Lauriemariepea
hi, sophy--
wonderful newsletter! touching and inspiring, and educational--i love the idea of laughter breaking down boundaries, bringing people together. and it's true! we naturally feel relaxed and trusting with people who laugh with us. thank you!
You are most welcome! And thank you for your kind comment, glad the newsletter hit home for you.
From Pen Name
Dear Sophie,
Your well-researched and thoughtfully presented editorial on laughter made me a little sad, for in hearing how important laughter is in the spirituality of many religions, I felt a whole new appreciation for people of centuries past. Imagine living in a time where disease, war, and famine claimed the lives of many children, where women died in difficult childbirth, and there was danger from wild animals and the elements. Thinking about that made me sad, because back then, laughter truly was more precious than gold. Imagine laughing today, with no TV, Internet, e-mail, cell phones, or cars. I suppose many of us would be crying.
Sincerely,
Lois
Thank you for your thoughtful comment to my laughter newsletter. How true that laughter must have been so precious back then -- as it is now!
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming, they are greatly appreciated! And on behalf of myself and the other regular Spiritual Newsletter Editors larryp and kittiara -- thanks for reading!
Until next time! SophyBells
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