I was having a conversation with some clergy and the subject came up of how we write sermons.  Not-how we come up with ideas, but how the sermon actually gets put on paper.  We reminisced about the days before computers.  One pastor shared she used a non-electric typewriter.  One pastor still hand writes everything down on yellow lined paper first and then puts it on her computer. 

Do you remember how much work was involved with typing? It was a work out.  It was a guessing game. 

Will I fit the whole word in before I get to the margin? How much room do I have to sav at the bottom of the page for a footnote? 

Then there was ‘white-out.’ 

Today, I can edit my sermon 20 times before I preach it. 

One pastor shared how she would type out things and if she thought of something later it wouldn’t make it into the final copy.  She would have a great thought…but it was too much work retyping the whole page, which might mean retyping more pages.  How much was left out?  How many thoughts, nuggets of wisdom and brilliant twists and turns have been left on the cutting room floor?  

It makes me think: What was left behind?  Who has been left out? What and who is missing from the final product?

I mentioned in my sermon last week the story of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish chemist, who as able to read his own obituary and was horrified to learn that he was being remembered for making a fortune from creating dynamite and allowing countries to manufacture weapons of mass destruction.  That WAS his legacy.  He was determined to change it- so he invested his immense fortune in creating awards for people that advanced peace.   So when we say the name “Nobel” now, we associate it with ‘peace prizes.’

He was able to change his legacy.  What is your legacy?  How will you be remembered?  What is it that you want written in your obituary?  What would you like people to say at your funeral?   You have the opportunity to craft your legacy—there’s still time!