Leaving Footprints

“One small step for man. One giant leap for mankind.” As I was running this past Wednesday, I couldn’t get this phrase out of my mind. Perhaps I should explain. This past week, Lauren and I were attending the United Methodist Congregational Developers Gathering in Denver, Colorado. We will write more about this in the coming weeks. Whenever I travel, one of my rituals is to scope out running routes in the local area. I discovered a wonderful packed gravel trail very close to my hotel and enjoyed several runs along it.

When I awoke Wednesday morning, I was pleased to see the anticipated snow did not materialize and the rain from the day before had transitioned from a downpour to a light mist. I laced up my shoes and headed out the door. When I made it to the trailhead, the compacted, hard gravel was softer, a bit muddier but definitely runnable. I was doing a simple “out and back,” which is exactly as it sounds, I run out to a certain point and turn around and run back. 

As I was on the inbound route, I noticed the slight footprints I had made in the shallow mud. Wow, proof that I had been there, and thus why I was thinking about Neil Armstrong’s infamous words. I understand that my prints would not last as long as his, but I couldn’t help but think about the moment, I had left behind proof that I was there.

What a great reminder for all of us. What are we leaving behind that proves we were here? The Talmud, which is an ancient Jewish text containing sayings, ideas and stories, reminds us that if we want to leave a legacy then we should “plant a tree, write a book or have a child.” While this was not to be taken literally, it was a poignant reminder to have an impact, to have an influence that would last much longer than any of our time on earth.

There are many ways for us to leave a legacy, the work we do, the family we raise, the philanthropy in which we engage or the service we render. Yet, the more I think about it, the greatest legacy we can leave, the biggest impact we can have is as a follower of Jesus Christ. 

The problem is that we are so busy DOING Church, that we forget to BE the Church. My simple definition of the Church is being the hands and feet of Jesus in this world. In other words, we live out our discipleship, we actually do as Jesus did in our homes, schools, work, community, country and world. In big and small ways we love God with our whole being and love our neighbors as ourselves. And what does that look like? This will be the topic of a future blog series, but in the meantime, I want to let you help design that series, but telling me how you are the hands and feet of Jesus in this world? 

In the comments below, please take a few moments and reflect with us:

1. How do you love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength?
2. How do you love your neighbor as yourself?
3. Another way to think about this, as you look at the life and teaching of Jesus, how do you live and love like Jesus?

I look forward to the conversation.