Author: It Is Your Legacy

Bloom

It Is Your LegacyLeave a comment

The leaves may be falling off the trees in some parts of the country, but in my backyard … pink, yellow and purple bougainvilleas are bursting with color.

Why? It’s time to bloom again. It’s the season. The purple stays in bloom year round, the pink is in bloom most of the time, and the yellow a little less than the pink.

But they all bloom. They are planted, growing, stimulated by dryness and in it’s season … they bloom.

A good legacy will bloom …. Don’t hurry it, just be faithful. Your kids and those you are influencing will remember … so leave a good legacy.

Don’t compare yourself to the purple one … hang in there and don’t let dryness or being in a wilderness discourage you. You will bloom.

Leave a good legacy

Do I Help?

It Is Your LegacyLeave a comment

How much help do I give them? Parents, friends and bosses face this dilemma often.

Saturday morning group rides (bicycle/tri-bike) have a lot of drafting. A strong rider is in the front facing the head winds and the pack is behind staying in a “draft” with little resistance from the wind. Usually, everyone takes a turn pulling – leading the pack.

Weaker riders spend most of their time in the pack being carried by the stronger ones.

In a triathlon (swimming, biking, running) no drafting is allowed on the bike portion. It is all up to you.

And there’s the tension. Sometimes you need help and sometimes it is up to you…and sometimes you help them and sometimes you don’t.

The tension of “bearing another’s burden” and “carrying your own load” is reflected in the Bible as well (Galatians 6).

So what do you do? Well, it depends ……. I guess you will figure this one out by yourself … but at least you are on the bike and moving.

Sometimes it is fun just being a part of the group and doing more together and sometimes you need to run your race. Regardless – Ride!

Leave a good legacy.

Leaving a Wake

It Is Your LegacyLeave a comment

Boats leave wakes. Water fans out from the rear of a moving boat creating a ridge on both sides. Directly behind the boat the water is flat.

Years ago me and my sons would took our boat, a 16ft Semi-V Carolina Skiff with a 40 horsepower motor, out into the Atlantic Ocean. The biggest challenge going into the ocean was getting through the Palm Beach Inlet. All inlets are dangerous, especially for a small boat. Our strategy was to wait for a larger boat to go ahead of us then we would settle behind them in their wake and go out through the inlet. We would follow them into the ocean.

The bigger boat would cut through the choppy waters and provide some protection from boats coming into the inlet from the opposite direction. Sometimes an incoming boat would produce a dangerous cross wake and we would turn into it to keep from taking on water.

The boat we would follow often did not know we were behind them in their wake. They were focusing on passing through the inlet safely too.

We only needed to follow them for 800 yards … just enough to pass through danger safely. We only needed calm waters for 60 seconds or less and we would safely move forward through the inlet.

Did you know that you are leaving a wake. Your family and friends benefit from the path you set over rough waters.

The wake of your life is carrying people you do not even know. It will be brief, but it will be essential to their safe passage. Lead well and influence the next generation by leaving a good wake.

Leave a good wake. It is your legacy.

When the Wheel Comes Off

It Is Your LegacyLeave a comment

Last night I was riding on the back of a golf cart. As we rounded a corner the right rear wheel fell off, the cart tilted, and the axle put a grove in the pavement. We were in shock. Unharmed, we slowed to the side of the road.

The wheel had four bolts and they were scattered along the road. It was dark and the neighborhood was quiet. Somehow my son found the bolts. It had happened before and he knew where to look. I was went looking for the wheel, but when it came off, it kept rolling ahead of us into a neighbor’s flower bed.

Sometimes when our plans go bad we just find the bolts and put the pieces back together. The road may be scarred but it still works. I’m a big believer in the value of failing and taking risks around the corner.

But sometimes poor decisions have a bigger cost. Sometimes the consequences roll ahead of us and impact the future. This isn’t about mitigating risk, this has more to do with our character and integrity.

Leave a good legacy.

Noticed

It Is Your LegacyLeave a comment

Do you ever wonder if anyone notices you and the work you do?

I was part of a Fall Festival with games and food for families on Saturday. Many volunteers and staff worked hard. We were proud of our service and everyone enjoyed the event.

The next day, after church, someone gave me a note. It said, “… your behind the scenes works are such a great part … I just wanted to let you know how much you are appreciated.”

During my normal work I am noticed and encouraged. My tank is usually full. It is a great workplace.

Yet, we all wonder… does anyone know what I do? The note. It felt good and now sits on my home desk. It’s just a reminder… we are noticed.

You may not receive a note, but you are noticed.

You are leaving a legacy … leave a good legacy.

PS. Write someone a note … it may be the only encouragement they receive.

Talk it Out

It Is Your LegacyLeave a comment

Facing decisions can be confusing. Welcome to the club. What can you do?

Talking with a trusted friend or confidant allows you to express what you are thinking, feeling and wondering about for your life. Just saying things out loud helps bring clarity to your thoughts.

Give someone a call for coffee (or tea) and tell them you need someone to help bring clarity to what is swirling around in your head.

As individualistic as I am, the few that I bounce off what I am thinking help me move forward. They don’t give me answers, they simply help me have a better perspective.

Talk it out and leave a good legacy.

Don’t Compare Run Your Race

It Is Your LegacyLeave a comment

Comparison is dangerous.

Last weekend I went to a triathlon event with multiple races. I watched. Some took all day and others were less than an hour.

As participants finished a short race I noticed … tall, short, stout, skinny, young, old, moms and dads, some striving hard and others just surviving. A few had artificial limbs, most didn’t know anybody except for a friend or family member.

They just ran their race and they finished. Each one had their reason for running. If they had tried to copy someone else they would have been miserable and failed.

With over 500 participants I’m sure a few were disappointed in their outcome, but most have started telling the story of a completed race.

I can image the Monday morning stories of big waves and oppressive heat and the challenges they faced … but they lived to tell the story.

Leave a good legacy … run your race.

Roll Uphill

It Is Your LegacyLeave a comment

My friend had a Honda QA50 mini- bike. It was cool. I had a mini-bike, but it was an off brand … cheaper bike. I was thankful for it, though our neighbors were not.

His bike was faster on a flat surface and going downhill. He always beat me in a race … except when we raced uphill.

I don’t know why my bike went faster uphill than downhill, but it doesn’t matter. It seems like it’s a metaphor for my life. Persevere and keeping moving forward when life is uphill.

Roll Uphill

Leave a good legacy

Say Something

It Is Your LegacyLeave a comment

Many people are hesitant about speaking up and saying what they really think. If you are introverted and shy your default is to not speak up. There are many fears behind this, but ultimately you don’t want a negative reaction.

Yesterday, I spoke up two times. I had been thinking through strategies and solutions for each situation and the opportunity to say something unexpectedly presented itself ….. and I spoke up.

Both were well received and I acknowledge God’s timing, but a significant part was an ongoing preparation and pursuing of an outcome. I was confident in the process regardless of the response.

Be prepared about what is important to you …. And then respond when the timing seems right. Regardless of the outcome, keep moving forward.

Leave a good legacy.