Happy Easter to you all. Irrespective of what Easter is and means to you, it is an opportunity to pose, relax and possibly connect with family, and or friends.
What is Easter?
Easter is the Christian holiday celebrating the Resurrection, or bringing back to life, of Jesus Christ three days after his crucifixion. Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb on the third day after his crucifixion.
In Christian tradition, the Resurrection represents Christ’s victory over death and the promise of eternal life for those who follow him. Easter icons such as eggs, baby chicks, bunnies and tulips symbolize new life and renewed hope.
Those are powerful ideas to embrace whether you celebrate Easter for religious reasons or simply because you enjoy the vibrant traditions that go along with the holiday.
Whatever the reason behind your celebration, the Easter holidays is a celebration of one man’s legacy. His life impacted the course of history and whether one is his follower or not, his life has affected our lives over two thousand years after his exit.
One Solitary Life
This is a popular poem about the life of Jesus Christ, One Solitary Life. Although the author is frequently cited as “unknown” the poem is actually attributed to James Allen Francis.
He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant. He grew up in another village, where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30. Then, for three years, he was an itinerant preacher.
He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home. He didn’t go to college. He never lived in a big city. He never traveled 200 miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself.
He was only 33 when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.
While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his garments, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend.
Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race. I am well within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned–put together–have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one, solitary life.*
*Attributed to James Allen Francis.
Who defines Legacy?
The word legacy has been in the minds and mouths of many. A majority of people and especially those in leadership assume that they can define their own legacy. The Macmillan dictionary defines legacy as “something that someone has achieved that continues to exist after they stop working or die.” Reading a news article by Sammy Awami titled, The complex legacy of Tanzania’s John Magufuli in which he stated that the late president had left behind a nation divided in its memory of a leader who was simultaneously revered and loathed left me wondering who defines one’s legacy?
Shannon L. Alder stated that “A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.”
This simply means that defining legacy is not something one does on their own. Since our lives are deeply interconnected with the people that we interact with on a day-to-day basis, your legacy will be determined based on how you make others feel and impact their lives.
I am of the view that goals and actions matter, but in the end your legacy will be defined in harmony with those you cross paths with and share your gifts with. And based on their perceptions and feelings, a version of your legacy become solidified in their minds. And since a legacy cannot be achieved without the context of a community, it’s essential to check with others to see how they perceive you, and if your intentions align with their perceptions.
Your aspiration to influence people for the better and leave a lasting legacy may result to nothing if no one feels motivated when they interact with you. What will be your legacy?
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